Wives have been spouse beaters for eons now. Blessed be the one who even imagines this to be a new "trend".
Domestic violence is no joke..trust me when I say it is truly soul scarring and harrowing, especially if the onlookers and/or victims happen to include the children of the destructively feuding couple!

However as for the case mentioned in the OP, one will have to await further evidences including the wife's defense, as to whether this story is true or false.