Muammar Al Khadafi

Former Tory councillor Faraz Bhatti has appeared in court accused of repeatedly attacking his wife, Mazamil Bashir, during the period of February to August 2010.

Bhatti, who defected from the Lib Dems to the Tory party in 2008, was arrested in August 2010 after his wife contacted the police. Upon news that he head been bailed on suspicion of the assaults and making threats to kill his Tory party membership was suspended.

Opening the case for the prosecution in Liverpool Crown Court, Michael Murray said that "There was an argument and the defendant called Mazamil Bashir a bitch and a prostitute. He grabbed her by the arms tightly, swore at her and made threats, including that he was going to kill her if she went to work".

He also related incidents where Faraz Bhatti threatened to kill his wifes parents by burning down their house, and an attack where she was grabbed by the shoulders and pushed against a wall. Bhatti would "push, shove, shake and choke" his wife, whom he had only married in January of 2010.

Bhatti, who has held his seat on Manchester City Council since 2004, denies all allegations against him and the trial continues.