Two men charged with making death threats to ex-partners in separate arraignments

Two men have appeared in court today accused of threatening to kill their partners.

In separate arraignments, the men, who are not being named in order to protect the identity of the victims, were charged before magistrate Rachel Montebello.

The first, a 48 year-old father of one from Zurrieq, was accused of making death threats and attacking his partner, by police inspector Roderick Attard.

Lawyer Mark Refalo entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of the accused. Despite not having a fixed address after being kicked out of the matrimonial home, the man was released on bail against a deposit of €300 and a personal guarantee of €2000. The court bound him to inform the prosecutor of his new address within one week. He was also ordered to stay away from the woman, who was placed under a protection order.

In the second arraignment, a 68 year old man from Birkirkara was charged with slightly injuring his ex-partner, threatening to kill her, breaching the peace and causing her to fear violence.

The accused in that case pleaded guilty to the charges and was handed a 6 month prison sentence, suspended for one year, together with a fine of €100 which must be paid within 6 months.

A probation officer was also appointed to report on Cilia for the next 18 months and a protection order was issued for the victim for that period.

Inspectors Christine Delia and Elton Taliana prosecuted. Lawyer Yanika Bugeja appeared for the 68 year-old.