A man convicted of assaulting his wife after questioning her whereabouts has had his four-month sentence suspended for 12 months.
The 37-year-old father-of-two pleaded guilty last year to a count of assault.
Court records show the man questioned his wife about her whereabouts, which resulted in him slapping her chest and punching her thigh on April 27 last year.
Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere said he was satisfied this was an appropriate case to suspend the man’s sentence, given he had no previous conviction and was an ideal candidate for rehabilitation.
“It is unacceptable for any man to assault a woman,” stated Justice Tuiqereqere on October 23.
“The courts must do their part to protect women from this abuse. You are very fortunate to avoid imprisonment.
“You do so primarily because this is your first offence.”
The judge also imposed a permanent domestic violence restraining order on the man to protect the victim.
“You are permanently restrained from physically assaulting or abusing (the victim) in any manner,” he said.
