A COUPLE in their seventies who argued over their political differences featured in a court hearing before Truro magistrates when the husband threatened to kill his wife, at one stage telling her she had only minutes to live.
When he put his hands round her throat and squeezed, saying they would be her last breaths, she bit his thumb and shouted for their Border collie dog to help her.
William John Watkins, 75, of Chergwin Court, Penzance, pleaded guilty to assaulting Shirley Watkins, aged 77, causing criminal damage to her property, making a threat to kill her and breaching a bail condition by attempting to contact her on a date following the assault.
Gail Hawksley, for the CPS, said Mrs Watkins had called the police after the incident on May 24, and officers found her in a very distressed state.
She had thrown a plastic bag at her husband because he was argumentative after going out drinking, and he said he would smash the place up, picking up their dining table.
Then he grabbed her round the throat, squeezing with both hands.
When she bit him he pushed her against a window, saying she only had minutes to live.
She broke free and rang the police, then he picked up a metal clock and raised it above his head as if to hit her with it, saying: "I am going to kill you."
Ms Hawksley said: "The attack stopped when Mrs Watkins shouted at their dog to help her. Watkins said: "That dog has saved your life tonight, but I don't know if he will next time.
"When the police arrived they found overturned furniture and broken glass. Watkins was abusive to them and very drunk. He said he had assaulted his wife to shut her up."
Graham Calderwood, defending Mr Watkins, said: "There were sometimes arguments between them because Mrs Watkins took a Conservative view about things and he takes Labour, and there were arguments about watching the news."
The wife said he drank too much but he said he only had to have a thimbleful and she accused him of having too much.
The wife said she did not want to live with him any more.
The case was adjourned for a probation report.