Assault on partner was `self defence'

A Napier man put his partner in a headlock, punched her and then pulled her hair but told police he was acting in self defence, a court was told.
Duane Thomas Moke, 28, admitted two counts of assault when he appeared in Hastings District Court on Thursday.
The court heard on May 19 Moke and his partner were driving in Wairoa when they began arguing.
He stopped the car and grabbed her by the hair, punched her three times in the face, then drove off leaving her behind.
On July 25, the couple were driving in Dannevirke when Moke became angry about facing an assault charge from the argument in May.
He forced his partner to stop the car and then placed her in a headlock.
She bit his finger as she struggled for breath and he punched her about five times to the head.
He pulled her hair and punched the left side of her face striking her glasses.
He later told police he placed her in a headlock in "self defence" but denied punching her. Judge Patrick Mahoney remanded Moke in custody for sentencing on October 3.