George's man accused of the serious sexual assault of his wife.

The charges stem from an incident said to have taken place at the couple's home in May of 1995 in the final days of their marriage -- days of argument, harsh words and accusations of adultery.

Earlier in the week the defendant took the stand to give his version of the events which led to his arrest for hitting his wife and forcing her to have sex.

According to the accused, his wife at the time threatened to "get him,'' seduced him and subsequently attacked him, forcing him to restrain her forcibly in self-defence.

He claims his wife only accused him of serious sexual assault after they had sex - which he says she initiated - and argued. In taking the Court through his story, the accused described himself as a, "non-violent person.'' Crown counsel Charlene Scott took issue with that phrase in her rapid-fire cross examination yesterday.

"You said you are non-violent?'' "Yes.'' "Yet, according to your own testimony, you ripped the phone wire out of the wall during an argument with your wife?'' "Yes.'' "Those are the actions of a non-violent person?'' "Yes.'' "You say you threw your wife on the bed.'' "Yes.'' "Non-violent people do that?'' "I was defending myself from her, she was coming at me.'' "You couldn't move out of her way?'' "No.'' "You were pinned against in a corner?'' "No.'' "In order to get out of her way you had to throw her? Would a non-violent person do that?'' the lawyer asked.

Ms Scott went on to review the evidence of a neighbour who had reported the man said of the alleged incident: "I just knocked her about a bit, that's all.'' "I never said that,'' claimed the accused who also said he was misquoted by the Police Officer who arrested him.

According to the Policeman, prior to being arrested the defendant said, "I had a fight with my wife. I didn't hit her, but she hit me and I pushed her on the bed.'' After being arrested the man declined to answer questions.

"At no time after being arrested did you say to the Police, `I never assaulted my wife.' '' Ms Scott said.

"Correct.'' "But you could have?'' "Yes.'' Later in the day defence lawyer Juan Wolffe put a woman on the stand who was with the victim minutes after the serious sexual assault is alleged to have taken place. According to the woman, who was a neighbour of the couple, the alleged victim was alternately calm and hysterical.

The witness told the nine woman three man jury how, on the day in question, she accompanied the alleged victim to a friend's house, comforted her and suggested that the Police and the Physical Abuse Centre should be called to help deal with the situation. She went on to describe the alleged victim's speech as difficult to understand saying she "blurted out,'' her words.

However, when asked by Mr. Wolffe to described her impression of the alleged victim's behaviour the witness said she felt it was, "not genuine, because there were no tears. She did not cry.'' The case resumes on Monday.