Police may quiz Nigella Lawson's husband after he was photographed grabbing her throat.
Art collector Charles Saatchi was seen shouting at his TV chef wife, reducing her to tears before clasping her by the neck during an argument last Sunday (09.06.13) outside Scott's restaurant in London.
Nigella has not made a complaint, but a spokesman for the police said: "Officers from the Community Safety Unit at Westminster are aware of the [argument]. Enquires are in hand to establish the facts of the incident."
Yesterday (16.06.13) Nigella left the couple's home with a suitcase along with her 17-year-old son Bruno, from her first marriage.
An onlooker told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Nigella looked on edge but Bruno was very protective of her and keen to look after her.
"He brought a medium-sized black trolley suitcase and put it into a waiting taxi and then went back and got his mum. Once they were in the taxi he was putting his arms over her trying to avoid her getting too much attention. Nigella looked like she had a lot on her mind."
The argument has sparked fears Nigella, 53 and 70-year-old Charles' 10-year marriage is on the rocks.
A witness who saw Charles grab his wife by the throat said: "She appeared to be a woman who loves him but was clearly unable to stop him being abusive, frightening and disrespectful to her ... He looked guilty.
"It was clear he knew he'd done something wrong. He was menacing, there's no question. She had been abused and humiliated in public."
A spokesperson for Scott's said: "Staff are aware of Âthe allegations but did not see anything untoward. As this is now a police matter we cannot comment further."
Despite their argument, Nigella and Charles reportedly returned to Scott's on Saturday (15.06.13), the day before the photographs of him grabbing her neck were made public. There was no aggressive behaviour between them and they appeared to enjoy their meal.
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