In any prosecution involving sexual assault, assault, or abuse committed against one's spouse or against a minor child of the defendant or of the defendant's spouse, the judge may order the spouse of the defendant to give testimony against the defendant notwithstanding the fact that the spouse may have been married to the defendant before, at the time of, or after the commission of the offense, and notwithstanding the fact that the spouse may be called as a witness during the existence of the marriage or after its dissolution.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-17-10.1