Hector Burton, a man accused of beating his wife because she challenged him about a woman he was hiding in their home, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Burton appeared before Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey to answer to assault occasioning bodily harm.

The complainant, a Japanese national who moved to the island three years ago, told the court that on the day in question, she learnt that her husband had another woman in their home. She said when she went to the house, her husband hid the woman and an argument developed. She said she was hit several times and many items of furniture were destroyed during the struggle that ensued.

Burton, however, said his wife was the one who lost control. He said she was very angry and he could not control her or stop her from damaging the furniture. RM Pusey told Burton that it was disrespectful of him to take another woman into their home. To this he said, "If my wife would make love to me, I wouldn't have to do that."

The complainant, however, told the court that she was afraid of her husband as he beat her several times. She said she wanted to get a divorce and wanted to be left alone. The accused, however, did not seem to take her seriously and told the court, "She's just upset, your honour," before telling his wife, "I love you."

The couple was ordered to get counselling from the probation department and the matter would return to court on August 12.