Joshua Boyle, a former hostage held by a terror group in Afghanistan, has gone on trial in Canada on charges that he repeatedly assaulted his wife.

Mr Boyle faces 19 charges, including sexual assault. A partial gag order was lifted as the trial started Monday, revealing that all but one of the 19 charges relate to his American wife, Caitlan Coleman of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania.

Mr Boyle and his wife were taken hostage in 2012 by a the Haqqani network, a Taliban-linked group ,while on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan. The couple had three children during their five years in captivity.

The family was rescued in 2017 by Pakistani forces, attracting publicity for the dramatic nature of their rescue and the fact they had small children in tow.

Mr Boyle was arrested in December that year and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ms Coleman plans to testify during the case.