A HUSBAND almost throttled his wife during a heated theological argument triggered by a controversial Mel Gibson film, a court heard.

Michael Watson loosened his grip on the throat of his wife, Patricia, only when she appealed to his faith by gasping: “Do not touch God’s anointed.”

The court was told that the couple, both devout Christians, celebrated his birthday with dinner and a bottle of wine before sitting down to watch The Passion of the Christ.

Mrs Watson left the room, and her 44-year-old husband became so upset by the graphic depiction of the Crucifixion that he pulled the leads out of the television and went upstairs.

His wife then decided to watch the God Channel and went to ask him why the television was not working.

Yvonne Jobling, for the prosecution, said that an argument developed, and Watson accused his wife of being evil. He grabbed his wife by the throat and she fell to the floor. She said: “His grip was so tight she was unable to speak, but she then managed to say something of a religious nature which seemed to cause him to relax his grip.”

Magistrates in Bedlington, Northumberland, were told that Mrs Watson, a 51-year-old care worker, had gasped: “I’m anointed by God. You know that, Michael. Do not touch God’s anointed.” Mrs Watson, who was left with red marks and soreness to her neck and a grazed forearm, later told police that she had believed that her husband was going to kill her. Watson told the police that everything his wife said about him must be true because she never lied.

Tony Malia, in mitigation, said that Watson had gone upstairs in an attempt to get away from the argument after their “religious discussion” about the film became heated. His wife had followed him and tried to remove his wedding ring. When he was interviewed by the police, Watson immediately accepted he had gone too far. Watson, who is unemployed, from Blyth, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to assault and was given a two-year supervised community order. The magistrates took into account his early guilty plea and the fact that he had shown genuine remorse.

The couple separated after the attack but are now attempting a reconciliation.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Watson said that she had planned “a lovely evening” for her husband’s birthday. “I had bought The Passion of the Christ on DVD that day and we started watching it.” She said that she became upset and left the room before her husband.

“After a while Michael got upset because of the way Jesus’s Crucifixion was portrayed. He pulled the leads from the back of the television in anger and went upstairs.

“Later, I wanted to watch the God Channel but the TV would not work. I went upstairs to ask Michael why it wasn’t working and we argued about it.

“The Devil was in the house that night. I had to remind Michael that I am one of God’s annointed people. It was the devil that made him do that.”

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