Woman bites chunk out of her estranged husband's forehead

A woman attacked her bar manager husband at Shifty's Sports Bar, biting him so hard on the face that he might be permanently scarred, the New Plymouth District Court has heard.

Monique Shonee Gallagher, 19, says she lost her temper because her estranged husband had baited her and "knew all the right buttons to press".

The scrap involved other customers and bar staff who rallied to try to get her off him after she trapped him in a corner, biting and continually bashing him.

Gallagher yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting her husband with intent to injure him and assaulting his new girlfriend, and a staff member, who also tried to separate them.

The attack occurred on February 8 when Gallagher went with friends to the Bell Block bar.

But the night deteriorated as the separated couple made disparaging comments to one another and were swearing and shouting, the police summary said.

Gallagher was told to leave, but refused.

When her husband tried to phone for help, she lunged at him, pushing him backwards and punching him several times. She trapped him in a corner and bit him through the skin on his temple.

As others pulled her off him, she grabbed the hair of his new girlfriend and customers and staff had to use force to get Gallagher to release her hold.

Her husband's wound required medical attention and was likely to cause permanent scarring, the police report stated.

Judge Allan Roberts remanded Gallagher to May 28 for sentence, calling for a full pre-sentence report and the possibility of a restorative justice meeting.

- © Fairfax NZ News