Wife dies of heart attack during heated argument, husband acquitted

Joseph Pace, 63 of Marsa, who managed to evade an involuntary homicide charge, after an autopsy confirmed his late wife had died of a heart attack during a family argument, was acquitted of threatening her, slightly injuring her and harassment.

Maria Dolores Pace had died of heart failure soon after she was allegedly punched in the face by her husband during an argument in July 2008.

The woman died on the spot, and was found by police to have her husband's ring mark on her face next to the bruising caused by the punch.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder, but was let off the hook after an autopsy confirmed that she suffered heart failure as a consequence of ischemic heart disease.

He was later charged with instilling fear, threatening and causing slight injury to his wife.

In handing judgement, the court expressed itself convinced that the man's behaviour was punishable, but had "no choice" but to let him go, as no evidence with which it could find him guilty had been brought forward by the prosecution.

It said that although the cause of her death was related to a cardiologic condition, it was possible that the argument that had taken place, had caused her to stress and might have contributed to her death.

Lawyer Joseph Brincat, who was representing the victim's family, testified that the woman worked for his family and he knew that her married life was getting from bad to worse.

She had sought his assistance to embark on separation procedures and one of the biggest fights between the couple was over money.

She used to be fed by neighbours who also gave her money to get by. He also remembered a violent incident between the couple when she had received a social services cheque, which the accused wanted.

In her judgment, Magistrate Miriam Hayman said that even if the man's behaviour led to the woman's death, no proof had been presented.

Dr Brincat's evidence showed the man's  negative attitude to his wife, but Dr Brincat's evidence was about his behaviour a year and a half before the incident, so the charge referred to a different date.