A man has been accused of shoving his wife against a cupboard so hard it broke during a family dinner.
The husband who allegedly punched his wife of more than three decades and slapped his son-in-law will remain behind bars after concerns he would flee the country.
The 58-year-old is facing two charges of aggravated common assault, and one charge of aggravated property damage in the ACT Magistrates Court.
The man, who has not been named to protect the identity of the alleged victim, is yet to enter pleas.
On Tuesday, special magistrate Lucinda Wilson refused the man bail, saying the risks were "too grave".
"The court considers it highly likely [he] will not appear in court... because it is possible he will leave the jurisdiction," she said.
"[His] wife disclosed to police that she has been assaulted many times in the past by [her husband]."
Ms Wilson pointed to photographs allegedly showing marks on the wife's face, and a photograph of "extensive damage" to the internal wall of the cupboard.
"This damage was said to have been caused by the [husband] forcibly pushing his wife into that wall and the damage... appears consistent with that allegation," she said.
According to police documents read out in court, the man beat up his wife and dragged her across their living room by the hair on Monday evening.
When the couple's son and son-in-law arrived at the home for dinner, the man began arguing with them over money owed from two years prior.
Police allege the man's son-in-law tried to calm him down, but the husband said "who are you" and slapped him across the face.
Police say he then punched his wife "with enough force to knock off her glasses" before pushing her against a cupboard so hard he broke plasterboard.
The couple were supposed to fly to India the following day, the court heard. The husband has been living in Australia since 2009.
A prosecutor argued against bail, "particularly in circumstances where he was supposed be catching a flight today".
She said the possibility of the man failing to show up to court was "alive and well", and he still posed a threat to his family.
Legal Aid lawyer Sam Brown argued the man was "relatively isolated" apart from his sons and wife, and his lack of other family in the ACT put him in an "incredibly vulnerable" position if ordered to cut contact.
He also noted the husband had no criminal history.
Ms Wilson said she was also concerned it appeared from police documents the couple's son did not intervene to protect his mother.
The court took into account the alleged victim's need for protection, and her concern for who would protect her.
"The only person who appears to be protecting [the wife] from [the husband's] violence is the non-blood relative, namely, her son-in-law," she said.
The man remains in custody and is set to face court again in early November.
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Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; MensLine 1300 789 978; ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service 6280 0900; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
