A TAXI driver is on trial for allegedly causing a permanent disability to his former wife when he assaulted her following an argument over a mobile phone.
The 46-year-old Bahraini denied the charges at the High Criminal Court, instead claiming that his 38-year-old Bahraini former wife was always hitting him.
The couple shared a house with their children but lived on different floors.
Medical documents attached to the court files revealed that both appeared to have bruises, during their interrogations.
“We took a mobile phone in my name prior to the divorce and he promised to pay the instalments but never did and I incurred debt,” said the woman in a statement to prosecutors.
“We got divorced, on one condition – which he demanded – that I stay in the same house to help raise the children.
“On April 10, I wanted to take the mobile phone and sell it and he followed me upstairs demanding I return the phone and when I refused he slammed my head into the wall 10 times.
“He broke my tooth and tried to choke me, and he also hit me in the face multiple times.”
However, the defendant denied assaulting the woman and said she was continuously hitting him while they were at home.
He alleged that she was a ‘trouble maker’.
“We had agreed to take the mobile phone under her name and that I would pay the instalments. But then she changed her mind and wanted to sell it,” he told the Public Prosecution in his statement.
“She grabbed the phone and started swearing at me and pushing me but I never hit her.
“She’s a trouble-maker and she’s hit me before; that wasn’t the first time.”
According to court documents, the 38-year-old suffered from multiple bruises across her body and a broken tooth – which constituted for a one per cent permanent disability.
The trial was adjourned to Thursday for review and provide the defence lawyer with official documents while keeping the 46-year-old in custody.
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