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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Daniel Byron

Man behind ‘dress that broke the internet’ charged with trying to kill wife

A HUSBAND who went viral after a dress bought for his wedding "broke the internet" has appeared at Glasgow's High Court accused of the attempted murder of his wife.

Keir Johnston, 38, from the Isle of Colonsay, gained worldwide fame when the mother of the bride at his wedding in 2015 wore a dress that sparked a debate around the world over its true colours – black and blue or white and gold.

The 38-year-old attended the High Court on Monday and is alleged to have conducted a near 11-year campaign of serious domestic violence alongside coercive control, culminating in the attempt on his wife's life.

Johnston is facing serious charges for domestic violence against his wife. The incidents occurred from April 2019 to March 2022, during which he physically assaulted her by pushing her against a wall, shouting at her, and choking her, even going so far as to threaten her life.

In another incident, he allegedly tried to get into a vehicle his wife was in and struck her through the open window. Additionally, Johnston is accused of forcibly removing his wife from a pub by putting her in a headlock and dragging her, simply because she refused to leave with him.

More charges claim he isolated his wife from her friends, closely monitoring her activities and finances, and exerting control over the amount of money she could access. 

Johnston denies all charges against him, with the case continued for a further preliminary hearing ahead of a trial in 2024.

The dress took social media by storm when it was shared on Tumblr with the poster wanting help in solving the colour dilemma. It led to celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift weighing in with their opinions.

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