Man allegedly forces wife to eat food off the floor

A man allegedly forced his wife to eat all the food that he had scattered on the floor, then beat her up with a broom, fracturing her right foot. Their children witnessed the beating, police said.

Police arrested on Tuesday the suspect, Tarson Takura Peter alias Tarson Tipwek Peter, on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, and contempt of court.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo imposed a $5,000 cash bail for the temporary liberty of the 31-year-old Peter.

Preliminary hearing was set for March 3, 2006.

Detective Andrea Ozawa stated in her report that the victim had called the Department of Public Safety on Feb. 10 to report the incident.

When police responded, Ozawa said the victim was observed limping, her left knee had bruises, and her right foot was swollen.

Police brought the victim and her five children to a domestic violence center. The victim told police that her husband hit her with a broom. The children told police they saw the beating.

Police investigation showed that the victim, Peter and their five children were at her cousin’s house in Chalan Kanoa on Feb. 7 at 2pm.

The victim went to the Food Stamp Office, but when she returned, Peter accused her of “looking for guys.”

Peter allegedly scattered food on the floor and told her if she does not finish all the food, he was going to beat her up.

The defendant, holding a broom, sat on a chair in front of his wife. The victim started to eat, but could not finish the food because she was not hungry.

Peter asked her if she could finish the food. When she answered “no,” the suspect hit her left knee with the broom’s handle. Peter then allegedly turned the broom upside down and rammed its end at the victim’s right foot, injuring it.

Ozawa said that, after a few days, the domestic violence shelter manager informed her that the victim was taken to the hospital and it was found out that her foot had been fractured.

The victim said she had obtained a temporary restraining order against Peter, but in October last year, the court order allowed them to live together again.

During the first month, Peter was fine, but after that he started abusing her again, court papers said.