A 33-year-old porknocker was placed on a bond to keep the peace for two years after his wife, who he was charged with assaulting told the court that she did not want to prolong the matter.

Richard Skeete had pleaded not guilty to unlawfully assaulting Rema Williams at Lot 282 Lamaha Park on February 15 so as to cause her actual bodily harm.

However, Williams told the court she was very sorry for bringing the matter so far but she wanted to end it.

When Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson asked the defendant why he had hit his reputed wife, Skeete told her, “I knock she cause of vexation. She was scandaling me name.”

The magistrate then asked what it was that she was saying exactly that made him hit his wife, but the man was hesitant to answer.

Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford then informed the court that it was because the VC was telling people that the defendant eats meat.

There was an outburst of laughter when Skeete admitted that was the reason.

Skeete is a Rastafarian.

After the court stopped laughing, the man was placed on the bond and the ordered to pay $20,000 costs.