There was much excitement in a small district in Manchester last month when a woman drew a piece of stick and began beating her husband.

Residents in the area watched as the man cried for help, but did not offer any help.

One of the residents in reporting the incident said the man was "two-timing" his wife and someone told her about the affair.

"The wife trailed him one night and saw him going into his lover's house," the resident related.

"She waited some distance from the gate and, a few hours later when he came through the gate, she began to beat him.

"The husband began shouting for help, but when neighbours came out to see what was happening they offered no help.

"As a matter of fact, they encouraged the wife to beat her husband because he was disrespecting her. The man fell while being beaten and the wife continued raining blows on him.

"The poor husband was so embarrassed about the whole thing that he left the matrimonial home without taking even his clothes. He is now living with his mother in an adjoining district.

"The wife is my cousin and since the husband left he has not given her any money for their two young children. She is not working and so other relatives have to be supporting her and the children.

"It is the husband's fault that his wife had to beat him and so I think he should support his wife and children. I told the wife to take him to court for child support, but she says she is scared that he might tell the judge that she was the one who beat him and caused him to leave the house.

"Do you think if she goes to court for child support she would be successful?" he queried .

The fact that the husband left after he was beaten by his wife has nothing to do with her application before the court for maintenance for her and the children.

Under the Maintenance Act there are provisions for a man to maintain his wife and children.

'It is the husband's fault that his wife had to beat him and so I think he should support his wife and children. I told the wife to take him to court for child support, but she says she is scared that he might tell the judge that she was the one who beat him and caused him to leave the house. Do you think if she goes to court for child support she would be successful?'