DUBAI // A British expatriate tried to strangle his wife in a row over custody of their daughter, a court has heard.
A fight broke out after the wife visited her estranged husband’s villa in Umm Suqeim on July 7 this year and confronted him, prosecutors told the Misdemeanours Court.
The wife, T L, 48, said M L, 61, grabbed her by the neck and tried to strangle her.
She said he had often assaulted her and this had made her to seek a divorce.
She reported the attack to police five hours after their argument.
The husband denied assaulting her and said he closed the door to her.
“She came to see our seven-year-old daughter but I slammed the door because we have an outstanding case at the Dubai Sharia court,” he said.
He said he was at work when his child’s nanny called to say his wife was trying to take the girl away.
He returned home and shut the door on his wife, who pushed against it, breaking a part of it.
“She then started screaming,” he said.
The Misdemeanours Court charged the man with assault and his wife with damaging property.
The next hearing was scheduled for November 26.
salamir@thenational.ae
