A bird shop owner accused of beating her assistant on a daily basis for four years said the man did not want to quit because he was happy working there, the District Court heard yesterday. Chan Pui-mun, 31, who pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of wounding with intent and inflicting grievous bodily harm, is alleged to have beaten Shek Ka-fai, 27, with a variety of weapons, including mop handles, screwdrivers, a hammer, wooden chairs, a mug and various-sized iron and wooden rods, between April 2001 and February 2004. The court heard testimony from Chan after Judge Chua Fi-lan ruled that there was a case to answer yesterday. Telling the court that she had never assaulted Mr Shek, Chan, the operator of a Wan Chai branch of the Parrot Shop owned by her husband, said she had only scolded or blamed him when he did something wrong. She said she liked Mr Shek and found him a responsible employee. She said she had got along with him 'pretty well' since he started at the shop in April 1999. Admitting she recognised large injuries that appeared on Mr Shek's face and limbs from time to time, Chan said: 'It was not done by me.' She told the court Mr Shek's father came to the shop on one occasion and told her he should be let go because the family was complaining that he returned home from work very late at night and they wanted him to help run the family's herbal tea shop. 'But [Mr Shek] said he didn't want to quit because he was happy at the shop. He said he learned a lot of things there,' Chan said. The prosecution has told the court that Mr Shek suffered severe injuries during four years working at the Parrot Shop, including a permanent spinal fracture as well as bruises and swelling to his body and face. His tongue was allegedly squeezed with a pair of pliers, leaving a 1.5cm split in the middle. Chan denied she had a bad temper and said she did not understand why Mr Shek had made such a serious allegation against her. The hearing continues today before Judge Chua.