A man accused of beating his wife has told the Dili District Court he committed the assault because their child cried too much. 
The victim, known as LB, told the court FB couldn’t stand to hear the child cry while he was watching television or working.
“He does not love his crying child and he doesn’t like being interrupted either, so I said to him “you can leave home” but he threw me with a hand phone, dragging my hair and kicking me,” LB told the court.
She added she did more house work than her husband such as doing the laundry, cooking lunch for FB, babysitting, taking the child to school and cleaning the house.
While the case was going through court, LB stayed with her parents while FB and the couple’s eldest child stayed in the family home.
FB admitted he assaulted his wife and said it was because he could not stop thinking about his work.
He told the court he regretted his actions and hoped his wife would return to live with him.
“I will no longer harm her like before; I am really aware of my selfishness,” he said.
Judge President Duarte Tilman, who led the judgement, handed down a suspended sentence of one year.
