SWG & KAG

This matter concerned proceedings between SWG (the husband) and KAG (the wife) regarding the welfare of their two children. The central dispute revolved around allegations of child abuse by the wife towards the children, particularly HSG, and the capacity of each parent to meet the children's emotional and physical needs. The Court Counsellor's assessment highlighted the children's fragile emotional states, with BKG exhibiting shyness and separation anxiety, while HSG appeared more at ease.

The court was required to determine the veracity of the husband's allegations that the wife had engaged in conduct amounting to child abuse. This included assessing the wife's admitted use of foul language and obscenities towards the children, and her occasional reference to them as "little shits." The court also had to consider the husband's evidence, which was detailed in his affidavit and corroborated by his parents and neighbours, against the wife's general denial of the allegations.

The court found the husband's allegations to be credible, supported by the testimony of his parents and neighbours. These witnesses were found to be sincere and truthful, having been genuinely disturbed by the wife's conduct, which included hearing children screaming, the use of loud foul language, and specific incidents of HSG being left outside and referred to with abusive language. The court noted that the neighbours' evidence was tested but ultimately accepted, particularly given their prior friendly and caring relationship with the family. The wife's concessions regarding her language use, while downplayed as infrequent, were viewed in light of the corroborating evidence.