‘You are a liar!’ - Craig Butler’s wife responds to his claims she abused him

Sophia Smith Butler, wife of Phoenix All Star Football Academy founder Craig Butler, says after claims by him that she abused him in the past, he should be wary of a defamation suit.

The Butler family has been at odds since Monday, November 30 when son Kyle, a 22-year-old national footballer, alleged on his verified Twitter account that Craig stabbed him during a training session at Mona High School that afternoon, saying he was left to bleed to death. He substantiated the allegation with photos showing wounds to his arm and a cut on his lip. Kyle also alleged that it was not the first incident as he posted another photo showing a welt on his shoulder blade, saying that he was beaten with a "lass" for having friends at the family home. He also alleged in tweets that have since been deleted that he and Smith Butler have been abused mentally and physically since he was eight or nine years old.

Craig has since categorically denied the allegations, but Kyle's lawyer, Tom Tavares-Finson, says the incident at Mona High School has been officially reported to the police.

Craig's latest claim that he was victimised came through his lawyer, Christopher Townsend, who spoke in an interview with Nationwide News Radio yesterday.

"Mr Butler can also accuse her of being abusive," Townsend said. "Certainly, there have been instances which he has described where she has attacked him at his workplace and he did and said nothing about it -- attack him in a serious way with implements of assault. He didn't respond to her then and has not responded to her.

Equal allegations of assault

"So there can be equal allegations of assault being thrown back and forth."

But Smith Butler, then made a post on Facebook defending her character yesterday.

"Mr Butler be very careful of libel," she said. "Patterns are what shows the character of a person over time. No one in all my years before you came along Mr Butler can ever accuse me of abuse or physically hurting anyone and no one after you can ever make that statement.

"You are a liar Mr Butler and your hidden since are catching up on you now. For years I endured your smear campaigns and character assassinations for the sake of my children. But be very careful now, if you would like a libel lawsuit added to your legal woes, call my name any further associating it with abuse."

Smith Butler also suggested that Craig's allegation against her were when she was actually defending herself.

"Now to all victims of abuse, defending yourself from bodily harm when being attacked is not abuse. It's called self defence and that is your human right. Be careful of libel Mr Butler."