They were the consummate Pentecostal power couple who preached about the sanctity of marriage, held hands in public, even proclaimed their love in a book. Behind closed doors, their relationship was no fairy tale.

On Tuesday, Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III is scheduled to face criminal charges at Fulton County Superior Court for allegedly choking, beating and kicking his estranged wife, nationally known evangelist Juanita Bynum, after they argued in the Renaissance Concourse Hotel parking lot on Aug. 21.

Weeks claims he did not abuse Bynum. He maintains he has been a victim of domestic violence in their stormy five-year marriage.

It will be up to a jury to decide which minister's message is more moving.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said the facts will speak for themselves: Bynum suffered bruises in the attack. A bellman pulled Weeks off Bynum to stop the beating. The bellman heard Weeks threaten to kill Bynum.

"We plan to present evidence of what happened by way of eyewitnesses," Howard said.

Weeks was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple battery in connection with the incident.

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