A man strangled his wife on New Year's Day and then returned to a pub to watch football on TV, it was alleged in court yesterday.
Mr Liam Brady (43), Corban Avenue, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, who denies murdering his wife Kathleen (37), applied for bail in the High Court in Belfast.
Crown lawyer Mr David Hopley said Ms Brady had a row with her daughter, Michelle, over being left on her own on New Year's Day, and sent her daughter to a pub to tell her father to return home.
"When he returned they had a blazing argument, and he says he tried to calm his wife down," said Mr Hopley. "He grabbed her by the neck and started to strangle her. She fell and he continued to strangle her with both hands until she was dead. He then returned to the bar and continued drinking."
Defence lawyer Mr Liam Barr said there was a history of violence by Mrs Brady against her husband, and on one occasion she had thrown a hatchet at him.
"He is regarded as a mild-mannered man who never complained about her behaviour and has an absolutely clear record."
Mr Brady's employer, Mr Brian Cassidy, said he had put Mr Brady and his family up for a night after a domestic dispute and added: "Whatever happened this night was maybe the build-up after years of abuse. A person can only take so much."
Granting bail, Mr Justice Weir ordered Mr Cassidy to stand surety of £5,000, and allowed Mr Brady to return to the family home to be with his three children pending his trial.