By Canadian Press

Former hostage Joshua Boyle tells court his wife was unstable, violent

Sep 4, 2019 | 9:10 AM

OTTAWA — Former Afghanistan hostage Joshua Boyle, accused of assaulting now-estranged spouse Caitlan Coleman, portrayed her today as a mentally unstable person prone to fits and violence.

Boyle testified during his assault trial in Ontario court that Coleman had a tempestuous personality and was mercurial at the best of times.

Boyle, 36, has pleaded not guilty to offences against Coleman, including assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement, as well as a charge of misleading Ottawa police in the hours before he was arrested.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in late 2017, after the couple returned to Canada following five years as captives of Taliban-linked extremists who seized them during a backpacking trip to Asia.

Boyle says that during their tumultuous courtship Coleman would slap and hit him and even claw at his eyes.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Winter Solstice

20h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: We need more money trees at Christmas

Dec 22, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Term limits for prime ministers? Seems like a good idea now

Dec 20, 2024

He claims Coleman once came at him with a knife because he brought the wrong kind of mayonnaise home from the grocery store.

The Canadian Press