?There was no grip, it was a playful tiff."
"Nigella?s tears were because we both hate arguing"
Which was it then, Charles, a playful tiff or an argument? Because it isn't a 'playful tiff' if she is in tears because she 'hates arguing', and if it was an argument then he couldn't have grabbed her round the neck in a 'playful tiff'. I think he shot himself in the foot with that comment attempting to justify his actions. He has as good as said that he grabbed her round the neck during an argument. Which means it was in frustration / anger.
I disagree with some of the posters who think it was right for onlookers not to intervene. I think you can (semi) justify not intervening due to indecision and onlookers thinking "what the heck should I do?" But I think it is wrong to take the stance that "oh this is clearly DV so if I intervene now it won't stop him doing something worse at home". No it won't but that's not the point!!! Not intervening is telling him that the public think it's okay, or don't care enough to intervene, and that he can get away with it. Why should he stop hurting her at home (rhetorical Q - I'm not saying that he is, I sincerely hope he isn't) if people essentially tell him it's okay to do it in public?!