ET showed pics of her w/fat lips and one veneer knocked off leaving just a smalle ugly front tooth and the other front veneer seriously chipped. Someone would have had to punch pretty hard for that. They had on a 'oral surgeon' expert to state just how hard the punch would have had to be...yada yada yada. oh yeah, her lips were a tad fatter than usual.
I think maybe some women are defending him because they think maybe he is being entrapped by her into these tirades. She probably is, a little. Doesn't matter. She could press hot buttons 'till the cows come home. It does not excuse his response. It's like if she were to stand there royally pissed and say over and over hit me, hit me and he punched her into next week. Did she ask for it? Yep. Did that mean he can punch her? Nope! Just means she is stupid and he is guilty as sin. That's all.
Of course money is involved. Doesn't matter. He forgot to practice self control, on any level. His bad. You can't threaten someone's life over a BJ and then call foul, not my fault, they pushed my buttons and want my money.