Guilty plea for assault on wife with ostrich egg

A Waipawa man has pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife with an ostrich egg.

Phillip Russell, 46, appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from a domestic dispute on July 5.

The court heard how when Russell's wife returned home that afternoon with their nine year old son an argument broke out because her free roaming pig had caused $2500 damages to a tool Russell owned.

In the resulting altercation he verbally abused her and spat in her face four or five times before picking up an ostrich egg from the kitchen table and throwing it at her, bruising her chest.

His lawyer Antony Willis told the Court it had bothered Russell that the pig was allowed free range throughout the house.

"He has, over a long period of time, asked her to keep it under control," he said. "She prefers the animal to have free range and allowed access to the house, and it is something that's been driving him crazy." He also said Mr Russell had expected the egg to break when he threw it at her.

But Judge Richard Watson said it occurred while a protection order was out against him, from his wife.

"Worse still you then spat at her. That is in breach of the order because that is an assault. Then you threw the ostrich egg at her, and I can't imagine it was the delicate underarm throw, saying 'catch' that this counsel is suggesting."

Russell was remanded for sentencing on August 21.