AFTER fifteen years of marital bliss, Donna and Allan McDonald found themselves before the court to answer to assault charges against each other.

According to the husband, the two have been having a lot of problems lately, and the only option they had of salvaging their marriage was to seek the intervention of the probation department.

He contended that as a man, he feels rather strongly about a man hitting his spouse, but that on almost every occasion, he is left no alternative but to defend himself.

Magistrate Shurdell Isaacs-Marcus, before whom they appeared, placed the couple on $20,000 bail each, but according to the husband, they cannot afford to pay the money since they are cash-strapped at the moment.

He stressed that should there be an intervention by a third party to try to salvage what is left of their marriage, it would be the way forward for the couple.

The McDonalds are to return to court on November 18.