Manish Prasad, husband of Shahista Shewani Devi claims that his mother Madhur Lata was the problem in their married life.

Devi is charged with a count each of attempted murder and criminal intimidation.

The matter is being trialed before Judge Justice Riyaaz Hamza at the Suva High Court.

She is alleged to have attempted to murder her 4-year-old son Divyan and is also alleged to have threatened to kill her mother-in-law.

The alleged offence occurred on February 2, last year.

Prasad while being examined by state lawyer Saif Shah told the court that his mother had told him to ask Devi’s family to come and take her as there were so many problems in the house.

He further stated that the problems were due to his mother and that Devi had a good relationship with her kids.

Mr Shah questioned Mr Prasad on what had happened after he had reached work.

To that Mr Prasad said that his mother had called him after an hour and had asked him if he had called Devi’s sister-in-law.

He further told the court that he told his mother to leave it as he didn’t have her number but instead his mother gave him Devi’s sister-in-law’s number and told him to call her and inform her of the problems.

The court was further informed that Mr Prasad called Devi’s sister-in-law and asked her to take Devi away as they were having problems at home.

Mr Shah asked Mr Prasad what had Devi said when she called him.

He said: “My wife swore at me and asked me why I had called her sister-in-law and told her about our problems.

“She said she was tired of this problems and she told me that now we should separate and stay on our own.

“She said what I have told you earlier that if I get angry I am going to do it and that is to kill the children and kill herself by hanging them.”

It was stated in court by Mr Prasad that every time he told his mother Ms Lata that he wanted to move out, Ms Lata would tell him that once he leaves the house, he can never come back and to not even attend her funeral when she dies.

Mr Prasad told the court that his mother again called him to tell him to get the police as she thought Devi was going to do something.

When Mr Prasad came home he saw that his kids were playing outside on the terrace while Devi had locked herself inside the house and she had only opened the door after the police had come.

During cross-examination defence lawyer Abhay Singh suggested to Mr Prasad that all the problem started when they started staying with his mother to which he said yes.

He further admitted in court that his mother would never allow Devi to take her son Divyan to her relatives place and that his mother Ms Lata was always brainwashing their 4-year-old son.

“My mother always told Divyan that his mum is a bad lady and she told him all the negative things about my wife,” said Mr Prasad.

The state is represented by Mr Shah and Zenith Zunaid.

The case continues today.