Who is Charles from The Woman Who Walked Into Doors and what is their importance?

Charles Charlo Spencer is Paula's husband. He abused her for seventeen years before she finally kicked him out of their marital home. When he was a teenager, Charlo was considered a rough-edged juvenile delinquent. He was regularly involved in theft and brawling.

Paula, however, was attracted to his violent reputation. She believed that his reputation would influence the way others treated her. True to form, he raped her before their engagement. Over the course of their marriage, Clarlo not only abused his wife, he abused his children as well...... physically, emotionally, and sexually. In the end, he was killed by the police after stealing a car.