Framingham, USA - A Framingham man got so angry over his wife wanting to bring their young daughter to a mediation clinic in Boston that he choked her, tried to smother her and held her against her will, authorities claimed in court yesterday.
But Xing Yu's lawyer, Meryl A. Kukura, said he was just trying to stop his wife from bringing the 5-year-old girl to what he considers a cult meeting on Sunday.
"He said it has a cult feel to it," said Kukura during Yu's arraignment in Framingham District Court. "He said his wife thought she would obtain super powers by attending these meetings. He didn't approve of his daughter going to this meeting."
But prosecutor Kristen Noto said Yu became angry when his wife, who was not named, told him she was going to go to the meditation clinic with the daughter during an argument at their Woodmere Road house.
Noto said he grabbed his wife and threw her on a bed, and then climbed on top of her and began to choke her and then held a pillow over her face, Noto said.
"The daughter was in the hall, and she was screaming," Noto said.
The wife almost lost consciousness, Framingham Deputy Police Chief Craig Davis said.
"He placed both of his hands around her neck, making it difficult to breathe as he tightened his grip," Davis said.
Yu finally stopped the assault on his wife, but still refused to let her leave the house for several hours, Noto said. Yu let his wife and child leave when she said she needed to bring the girl to get Chinese language lessons.
Instead, Noto said, she went to the police station and reported the attack at 2:45 p.m.
Yu, 47, of 31 Woodmere Road was charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault and battery.
Kukura argued against Yu being held on bail. Along with his feelings on the meditation group, she said he had significant medical needs because he has Hepatitis-C.
"One of the side effects for one of his medications is irritability," said Kukura.
Judge Paul Healy set bail at $1,000. He also granted Yu's wife a two-week restraining order. Yu is due back in court on Nov. 13 for both a hearing on the restraining order and a status hearing.