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Verdict expected for man accused of putting hot sauce on boy’s tongue

A man who says it was his wife — not him — who spanked a toddler with a spoon and put hot sauce on the boy’s tongue as punishment will learn Thursday what the judge thinks of his story.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A man who says it was his wife — not him — who spanked a toddler with a spoon and put hot sauce on the boy’s tongue as punishment will learn Thursday what the judge thinks of his story.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Erik Verhoeven is expected to deliver his verdict in the case by way of a video link from New Westminster, B.C.

Shawn Bellows is charged with assaulting the three-year-old son of his common-law wife. During his trial, his 12- and five-year-old daughters told the judge they saw their dad hit the boy with a spoon and wield the bottle of spicy sauce.

But Bellows testified he didn’t do any such thing, saying it was his wife Amanda Rainkie who spanked and sauced the child. She was convicted of assaulting the boy earlier this year.

Jeremy Jensen, Bellows’ lawyer, argued the stories of the two young witnesses cannot be relied upon, as they were influenced by the version of events they heard from others as well as the passage of time.

The alleged assaults took place in Kamloops in early 2008.

The boy no longer lives with the couple but is in the care of Rainkie’s mother, who earlier told the court she hopes they do not regain custody of the child.

Bellows and Rainkie are still a couple. She was present in court as he testified.