Man jailed for assaulting wife despite claiming they were 'playing'

A man in Keelung, Taiwan, has been sentenced to 55 days in jail for violating a domestic violence protection order and assaulting his wife. The court rejected his defense that the incidents were merely "joking around" or "playing" with his spouse.

The man, identified by the surname Hu, married his wife in June last year and divorced in January, only to remarry the following month. Following a previous domestic violence incident, a court issued a protection order against him. However, on January 29, Hu allegedly attacked his wife at a friend's home, striking her head with an unidentified object and physically assaulting her, causing bruises to her head and left arm. The next day, he reportedly verbally abused her and slapped her face.

During the investigation and trial, Hu maintained that he was simply "joking around" and "playing" with his wife. He even suggested that his wife, who has thalassemia, sometimes bruised herself and blamed him. He claimed he only threw a cigarette pack and kicked a chair when she wouldn't answer his questions, attempting to portray the violence as playful banter.

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I was just playing with my wife, I didn't lay a hand on her!

However, surveillance footage from the friend's home presented a starkly different picture. The video showed Hu unilaterally initiating physical attacks, including throwing an object and punching his wife's back. His wife did not retaliate and appeared to need comfort and protection from others present, a stark contrast to Hu's description of "joking around." The judge found Hu's claims to be an attempt to evade responsibility, noting his continued violence despite the existing protection order.

Considering Hu's disregard for the court's order and his repeated assaults, the judge sentenced him to 55 days in detention, convertible to a fine of NT$55,000. The court also noted that Hu had reached a settlement with his wife, who subsequently withdrew her injury complaint. The verdict is subject to appeal. The report includes a reminder for individuals experiencing domestic violence to call the 113 protection hotline.

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I was just playing with my wife.