The wife of an academic savagely beaten during a raid on their £2 million London home spoke today of his bravery — as a second man was charged in connection with the attack.
The 55-year-old Cambridge-educated academic, who is the head of the law department at SOAS university in London, needs surgery to rebuild his eye and forehead and only has half his vision after the Wimbledon attack by two masked men.
He also suffered bruising to his body and limbs.
Officers were called to the property at 10pm on Monday following reports of a burglary.
Dr Kohler's 50-year-old wife Samantha MacArthur was threatened by two of the men who tried to tape her down to a chair, police said.
She said today: “Paul was badly beaten but fought all the time. He is OK but very shaken up. His eyes are causing him lots of problems. He’s very brave and strong.”
A 23-year-old man arrested at the scene was charged with grievous bodily harm and aggravated burglary this morning and will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates Court today, Scotland Yard said.
A 32-year-old man appeared before Wimbledon magistrates yesterday on the same charges, but two other suspects are still on the run and police are trying to trace them.
They are both understood to be Polish nationals in their late 20s.
Dr Kohler and Ms MacArthur's daughter and a man, both in their early 20s and who were upstairs at the time, managed to call 999 for help from a locked room.
Police said officers were on the scene within minutes and arrested two suspects in their late 20s.
The two others made off on foot and one headed towards Wimbledon town centre, police said. It is not known which direction the other man took.
Both remain at large and are believed to be aged between 20 and 30, and of eastern European heritage.
A number of personal items stolen in the burglary are all believed to have been recovered after being discarded and a large kitchen knife was found close to the scene, police said.
Detective Inspector Dan O'Sullivan of Merton Burglary Squad said the victim and his family were "distraught" and could not understand why they had been targeted.
He said: "I'm appealing to anyone who was in the area between 9pm and 11pm to come forward and speak to us if they heard or saw anything suspicious. We are also seeking information regarding a silver car the suspects may have used."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8649 3159; or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
