There was a darker side to the relationship between Gracia and Michael Morton in which he was violent towards her.
It was one of the factors which drove her to leave him and file for divorce.
But details could not be given in Morton's first trial in November last year.
A change in the law allowing evidence of bad character to be put before a jury meant the second jury could hear of the attacks.
A year before she disappeared, Gracia's psychotherapist had seen her with a black eye which she said Morton had given her.
In February 1997, around the time Gracia left her husband, a friend had seen her and been told Morton had " become depressed and violent".
" She saw bruises on Gracia's face and was in absolutely no doubt that the defendant had caused them and this was her reason for leaving him," said Brian Altman, prosecuting.
One of Morton's previous girlfriends said she had seen Morton shove Gracia in what she took to be a "nasty fashion".
Mr Altman said Gracia had originally petitioned her husband for divorce, saying he had been verbally abusive and from time to time had been physically violent. But the reference was removed on Morton's request in return for him letting the divorce proceedings go through undefended.
Mr Altman said Gracia agreed but her solicitor wrote saying she still stood by her allegations.
A year after her disappearance, her sister, Carolina, met Morton and asked him if he had ever hit her.
" He admitted he had punched Gracia in the face once when they were in Spain," said Mr Altman.
"He laughed when he told her Gracia had had to buy sunglasses in order to hide her bruise."
Carolina asked why he had hit her and Morton replied that he could not remember, said Mr Altman.
In 1999, when she tried to have the same conversation using a hidden tape recorder, Morton had sought to trivialise the incident.
Mr Altman said the evidence had been included in the trial so the jury could judge the truth, "warts and all".
