Photo: dailymail.co.uk

A Turkish man charged with hitting, kicking and choking his wife told a New Zealand court recently that they were actually performing a traditional dance to celebrate a profitable shift at their kebab shop.

Defense attorney Grant Vosseler told the District Court at Hawera on New Zealand's North Island on August 5 that Allaetin Can and wife Elwis were dancing the kolbasti when a passerby phoned police, the Taranaki Daily News reported. The kolbasti involves energetic, elaborate movements which could be misinterpreted as punching, kicking or wrestling, Vosseler told the court.

Can, a permanent resident of New Zealand, told the court he, his wife and two teenage children danced out of the kebab shop and into a car park after a profitable lunch shift. "We're always dancing," said Can, who pleaded not guilty to an assault charge. "I'm happy to dance with my wife and my family, what's wrong with that? People here understand fighting, not dancing. It's our culture." Elwis Can supported her husband and Judge Allan Roberts asked police to view a video of the kolbasti before deciding whether charges should be dropped.

The case will return to court tomorrow.

dailymail.co.uk