A man and a woman who reportedly had an altercation over the assault of a cat and destruction of some flowers appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer charges of malicious destruction of property and unlawful wounding, stemming from the incident.

Andrew Doyle is charged with unlawful wounding, while Paula Thomas is facing malicious destruction of property charges. When Doyle and Thomas appeared in court, they gave different but equally humorous versions about what allegedly took place.

Thomas told the court that Doyle beat her cat 'unconscious' and then following an argument over his actions, slapped her several times with a machete.

Doyle on the other hand, told the court that he did not intentionally harm his neighbour's cat but merely swung his grille open after which he heard the cat 'squeal'. He added that he saw that the cat appeared to have been hurt and he took the pet upstairs to Thomas' quarters but after knocking on her door to no response, he left the cat there.

He added that when he came out his house, saw the cat and an argument developed between himself and Thomas. Thomas reportedly destroyed some plants and flowers that he had on the premises at which time a machete was used to slap her over the body.

The investigating officer in the matter said the injury to Thomas' cat cost her a $3,500 veterinarian bill which Doyle handed over in court. Both persons were given letters to attend counselling at the Dispute Resolution Foundation and are set to reappear in court on June 25.