New Zealand man gets 7 1/2 years for torture of wife

The Dominion Post Wellington, New Zealand Last updated 11:09 13/07/2010

A Wellington man who poured boiling water on his partner after stuffing a sponge in her mouth to stifle her screams has been jailed for seven and a half years.  Wellington District Court judge Stephen Harrop told Dean Carl Griffiths, 41, there was an element of torture to the offending, which was ''like a reign of terror''. In August last year, Griffiths put a blue sponge in her mouth while pouring boiling water over her abdomen and legs.

Her recovery would take a year, the judge said.  Griffiths had pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, three charges of male assaults female, assault with a weapon and breaching a protection order.

Harrop said the offending took place over several days. ''It was gross, barbaric and degrading.''
Griffiths also hit the woman with a broomstick, and later broke her eye socket when he punched her.