A 35-year-old Queenstown man who attacked his wife, threatened her with a cigarette lighter and caused her to believe he would pour diesel over her and set it alight, was convicted of assault by Judge Kevin Phillips, in the Queenstown District Court yesterday.
The man, who was granted interim name suppression, was remanded until October 18 for sentence.
Sergeant Ian Collin said the assault occurred after the man returned home from Queenstown at 3.15am, intoxicated and "making demands" of his wife.
She went to the living room, intending to sleep there, but returned to the bedroom to get her dressing gown.
The man lunged at her, grabbed her and threw her through a partially closed door.
She went into the living room to find him with a large lighter.
The man put her in a "choke hold" and attempted to light the lighter.
"[He caused] the victim to believe he was going to either burn her face or set her hair on fire," Sgt Collin said.
He released his grip when he realised one of their children was watching.
The woman took the child into the bedroom and the defendant entered, holding a container with five litres of diesel.
"The victim thought the man was going to tip the diesel over her and set her on fire," Sgt Collin said.
Another child came to the door and the mother grabbed that child as well.
The man left the property.
He was arrested when he returned later that morning.
Counsel Bill Dawkins, of Invercargill, said the man was due to travel to Auckland to begin counselling.
"It's a combination of alcohol and almost insolvency having him act in this frightening and yet bizarre manner," he said.
Judge Phillips called for a pre-sentence report with a drug and alcohol assessment.
