Yesterday the Albury Local Court heard Julian Gawain Reid punched, choked and threw Robyn Reid to the ground, after the couple argued in the family car on the evening of April 29.

The 42-year-old father of four denied punching his wife, and said the couple were involved in a melee which began when she reversed into him as he tried to get out of the car.

However, magistrate Tony Murray ruled Ms Reid’s injuries were more consistent with her version of events.

A tearful Ms Reid, a former flight attendant, said the couple began to argue after she picked him up at Dean Street following an earlier medical appointment.

She said Reid threatened to hit her as they pulled into the driveway of their Albury home, about 6pm.

“I can’t remember the words but it was along the lines that he wanted to hit me,” Ms Reid said.

“I said ‘go ahead and do it’.”

The court heard that as the couple sat in the car in the driveway, Reid hit his partner’s upper arm several times with a closed fist, struck her in the breast and tried to choke her with both hands.

Later, Ms Reid said her husband walked around the passenger side of the car to where she was standing and threw her to the ground.

Her account was vigorously disputed by Reid who said Ms Reid attacked him first, by clawing at his face, mouth and ear, when he tried to remove the car keys from the ignition.

“I did not punch Robyn ... not on any occasion,” Reid told the court.

“She had her hands in my mouth and was trying to rip my lips off so I bit down on her hands.

“It was like a melee, it was frantic.”

The court heard injuries were suffered by both parties on the night.

Mr Reid was seen with cuts to his face, while photos were presented to the court of various bruises and red marks on Ms Reid’s body.

Magistrate Murray found these injuries were in line with Ms Reid’s evidence and ruled the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm proven.

A second charge of contravening an apprehended violence order was dismissed.

Reid, who has received bravery commendations in his long policing career, was taking medication for post-traumatic stress and depressive illness at the time of the assault.

The court heard he had not seen any of his children since July.

The case was adjourned to February for sentencing.