New Zealand man jailed six months for assaulting wife with an ostrich egg

WELLINGTON // A New Zealand man who assaulted his wife with an ostrich egg after her pet ran amok has been jailed for six months.

Phillip Russell lost his temper when he discovered her pet pig had damaged his power saw, verbally abusing his wife, spitting at her then grabbing an ostrich egg from the kitchen table and hurling it at her, Fairfax Media reported.

It said Russell, 46, had repeatedly asked his wife to keep the pet under control as it had damaged their home, a neighbour's house and council property, but she insisted it should be given free range.

The ostrich egg, the largest type of egg produced by any living bird species, caused bruising to the chest of Russell's wife, the report said.

It said Russell pleaded guilty to charges including assault using an ostrich egg as a weapon over the July 5 incident and was sentenced to six months jail in Hastings District Court.

At an earlier court hearing, Russell's defence lawyer said his client, who has a record of domestic violence, had expected his wife to catch the egg.

The report did not explain why Russell had an ostrich egg, a species that is not native to New Zealand.