Text message provokes assault

A MAN from Eastern Highlands who appeared before the Boroko District Court charged with assault and using insulting words, claimed that a text message provoked him to commit the offence.
Robin Kafie, 40, from Unggai, told the court that a text message sent by a Clarisha Mondo, who the defendant claimed in court was his wife, provoked him to assault her.
Kafie said he was attending a sports tournament in Goroka when he received a text from the complainant stating that she was with someone else.
“I was in Goroka when she sent me a text message telling me that she was with someone else,” Kafie said.
The accused told the court that he and the complainant had been living together for two years and that the community knew that she was his wife.
The court was told that on June 30, at the International Training Institute Badili campus at around 8.30am at the school gate, the defendant swore at the complainant, allegedly accusing her of being a prostitute and punched her on the right ear.
The court was told that the defendant allegedly swore and assaulted the victim in front of the students and teachers at the school gate.
He was charged under Section 6 of the Summary Offences Act.
He admitted in court that he committed the offence but argued that he had been provoked.
The case has been adjourned to July 27 for sentencing.