Couple's passions enflamed by Gibson film

13 April 2012

For devout Christians Michael and Patricia Watson it should have been the perfect end to a perfect night.

But when they sat down to watch Mel Gibson's controversial film The Passion of the Christ it almost ended their marriage.

The couple began to row about the contents of the Hollywood blockbuster after a theological discussion grew increasingly heated.

The extraordinary argument ended when Mr Watson tried to strangle his wife - only releasing his grip when she appealed to his religious beliefs. She begged: "I'm anointed by God, you know that, Michael. Do not touch God's anointed."

Yesterday, Mr Watson was reunited with his wife in court after being given a two-year supervised community order for assault. Mr Watson, who admitted the attack, was celebrating his 44th birthday with his wife when they sat down to watch the film, the court heard.

They had already enjoyed a home-cooked meal and a bottle of wine and were planning on a romantic evening whilst watching the movie which depicts the last 12 hours of Christ's life.

But when the Watsons entered into a theological discussion sparked by the film, tempers immediately flared, the court was told. Mr Watson - who accused his wife of being evil - suddenly grabbed her in the main bedroom of their home in Blyth, Northumberland.

Yvonne Jobling, prosecuting, said Watson lunged at his wife and forced her to fall to the floor before placing his hands around her neck. "His grip was so tight she was unable to speak,"

Miss Jobling told South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court in Bedlington. "But she then managed to say something of a religious nature which seemed to cause him to relax his grip."

Mrs Watson, 51, who was left with red marks and soreness to her neck and a graze to her forearm, immediately called the police and told them that she feared her husband was going to strangle her to death.

Her husband, who was taken away for questioning, admitted trying to throttle his wife and said that everything she claimed must have happened as she did not lie.

Tony Malia, defending, said the argument centred around a "religious discussion" the couple had had whilst watching the film.

"Mrs Watson accepts that Mr Watson went upstairs to get away from the argument," he said. "She followed him up and tried to remove his wedding ring and the watch he was wearing."

Mrs Watson said she tried to get away by crawling over the bed. But as she tried to escape he walked around and grabbed her around the neck, causing her to fall to the floor.

She said she remembered asking him to remove his hand from her neck and reminding him that they were both Christians. Mr Malia said Watson wanted to be honest and true to his beliefs and immediately accepted he went too far when interviewed by police.

Watson, who separated from his wife after the incident, was forced to spend three weeks in custody after the incident as he could only put forward a caravan address in Alwinton as part of his plea for bail.

It was only when his wife agreed to take him back that he was released from prison. They are now attempting a reconciliation.

During the hearing magistrates were told that Watson had shown genuine remorse and should be given credit for pleading guilty at the first opportunity. The couple also agreed to see the Probation Service together as part of his sentence.

Mrs Watson, who was in court, said: "I don't want any compensation, it would have no affect. Religion can heal. I have seen it in my own life."

The Passion of the Christ caused international fury when it was released in March 2004. Religious leaders were split as critics accused it of anti-semitism in its depiction of the last hours of Christ's life culminating in his crucifixion.

A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews said at the time: 'It would be better if this film had never been made. The glorification of violence and bloodshed and the reinforcement of medieval stereotyping of the Jewish people are extremely dangerous."

The film, however, which was written and directed by Roman Catholic Gibson, took £68 million in US ticket sales in its first five days.

Gibson even used £18million of his own money to finance the film, which used subtitles with Latin and Aramaic dialogue.

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