A man appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday for punching his child's mother multiple times.

Patrick Smith was charged with assault, occasioning bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

According to Smith, the complainant searched his bag and found two condoms. She then accused him of cheating and slapped him in his face. He told the court that he retaliated and punched her several times. Smith mentioned that the complainant also destroyed his television set, DVD and stereo.


different story

The complainant, however, gave the court a different story indicating that the bag fell from the table and the condoms fell out since the bag did not have a zipper. She added that she accused him of cheating on her and he pushed her. She told the court that she pushed him back and that's when Smith punched her in her face.

She said she fell on the bed and the accused man came on top of her and started punching her all over her body including her face and ribs. The television, DVD and stereo got damaged during the tussle.

After hearing the complainant say that she has been suffering from a bruised rib, which has prevented her from sleeping properly, Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey ordered the accused to immediately carry her to the doctor and return to court on June 16.