him she had been sleeping with his best friend.

So Trott dragged Tara Burchall and her belongings out of his apartment and then struck her.

The moment of anger, in July, cost the 23-year-old, of Mount Windham Apartments, a $200 fine in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Insp. Peter Duffy. prosecuting, said: "The complainant went to her ex-boyfriend's house. They were conversing but it turned into an argument.

"He became upset about what she said, threw her belongings out of the door, grabbed her hair and dragged her out of the door. She tried to get away and he became angry and slapped her.'' Trott explained: "A few days before I had found out that she had been sleeping with my best friend. She came round to my house and told me she had.

My friend also told me that she slept with other men.'' At this point Miss Burchall shouted that Trott was a "liar''. She was asked to leave the court.

Trott continued: "I felt that I was provoked. In fact she slapped me first. I retaliated by slapping her back. When I found out, I just snapped.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis said: "Any attack by a man on a woman is regarded as serious by this court.

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt and accept that you were provoked but your actions were not warranted by the provocation.''