A man accused of domestic abuse charges including the most recent occurring during an attack in public has claimed he struck his wife in self-defence and will be filing a complaint of assault against her.
However enquiries revealed this wasn’t the first time there had been violence alleged in the relationship, which it was claimed in court, an arranged marriage in the couple’s native India.
Jensen Matthew, from Main Street, Coalisland is accused of assaulting his wife on March 17 as well as engaging in abusive behaviour to cause physical or psychological harm over the previous two year period.
It is further alleged during a date in June 2025 he assaulted the complainant causing actual bodily harm.
A police officer aware of the facts of the case told Dungannon Magistrates’ Court all charges could be connected.
He explained police responded to an on-street incident on St Patrick’s Day following a 999 call by Matthew’s wife.
On arrival at the scene officers separated the pair and Matthew claimed she had accused him of cheating and slapped him and he retaliated by slapping her face.
Spoken to separately the partner said she had discovered Matthew has a “secret child in India” and that he is constantly having affairs and seeing other women.
The argument escalated when she informed him she has booked a flight back to India to file for divorce.
She also disclosed, after challenging him about his alleged affairs last year, he had bitten her arm and she showed police images she had taken of the marks.
Further enquiries revealed the couple were in an arranged marriage and the complainant has a full-time job however Matthew was originally on a student visa which expired in 2024.
He has since been granted leave to remain because of his wife’s work permit.
Objecting to bail the officer said the wife, “is vulnerable because she has only a very limited support network which largely relates to her employment. She was reported as a missing person last year after a previous domestic incident and she is very fearful. This was a very nasty situation, and she has already expressed concerns about attending court”.
A defence barrister argued without the complainant’s input the case is unlikely to proceed however the officer replied: “She cooperated in the sense that she rang 999 and there is bodyworn footage, although it is correct there is no written statement.”
The defence told the court Matthew has advised “he acted in self-defence and will be making a statement of complaint against his wife”.
District Judge Francis Rafferty agreed to bail in the sum of £250 providing an alternative address can be found, along with weekly signing with police.
He also banned Matthew from any form of contact with his wife and from entering Coalisland.
The case will return to court on April 1.
