What was supposed to be a romantic stop during a vacation through Europe ended in a scene of horror for Callum Forbes, an Australian businessman who claims he was attacked by his boyfriend while sleeping at a luxury hotel in France.
The couple was staying at the Château de Perreux, a boutique hotel costing around US$500 per night, during a trip that would end in Amsterdam. On the night of July 28, they had dinner and spent time at the spa before going to sleep.
According to Forbes, shortly beforehand they had discussed the possibility of ending their relationship.
Hours later, while he was asleep, his boyfriend David Cao, 37, allegedly took a pot of boiling water, threw it on him, and later hit him with it.
Forbes suffered second-degree burns to his face, torso, and arms, as well as a perforated eardrum and head wounds that required stitches. A photograph published after the attack shows the serious injuries he sustained.
“I still thought I was in a nightmare until I looked down and saw blood all over the floor”, Forbes told Australian media.
After the alleged attack, Cao reportedly fled the hotel, and a manhunt began that ended about 36 hours later, when he was arrested in Lille, near the border with Belgium.
French authorities charged him with attempted murder, as well as kidnapping, torture, robbery, and acts of barbarity. According to French media reports, Cao allegedly admitted to the attack but denied intending to kill his partner.
Forbes is recovering from his injuries, while the case remains under investigation.
What began as a luxury vacation in France ended in a completely unexpected way:
a night that was supposed to be romantic ended with one man seriously injured and his partner facing attempted murder charges.