assaulted his wife.

Thayne Frederick Greene admitted the attack on his wife, Carla Diane Greene, after he was informed that it was no longer possible for the victim to drop the charges.

Mrs. Greene had told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that she wanted to discontinue the case but he told her that was only a decision that could be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions' office.

He said: "When the DPP charges somebody, it is a matter for them to decide whether they want to continue or not. It is their prerogative to determine whether to drop charges.'' Mr. Francis' comments follow a decision by the Attorney General's Chambers to take the decision away from complainants in domestic violence cases.

They were alarmed at the number of cases that failed to proceed because couples had reconciled or because of possible intimidation of victims into withdrawing charges.

And the move was designed to ensure attacks went on record and to show to assailants that it was not the complainant's fault that charges could not be dropped.

Junior Crown Counsel Lesley Basden said Mrs. Greene reported that she had been attacked by her husband at their Curving Avenue home.

She said he had become enraged, had grabbed her around the neck and bit her thumb on June 26.

Greene had nothing to say in his defence.

In fining him $300, Mr. Francis said it was evident that the couple had reconciled but he added that there were serious consequences from knocking people around.