Man charged with detaining girlfriend, threatening to kill her

A 35-year old barista from Valletta has been accused of holding his girlfriend of four months against her will, threatening her and causing her to suffer slight injuries.

Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna, prosecuting, told Magistrate Josette Demicoli that the incident occurred last Saturday night in the man's residence in Valletta.

The accused, whose name is being withheld by order of the court, pleaded not guilty to charges of illegally detaining the woman, threatening to kill her and causing the woman slight injury. He is also accused of causing her to fear that violence would be used against her or her family, damaging her mobile phone and relapsing.

Defence lawyers Mario Mifsud and Alfred Abela requested bail.

The prosecution did not object to bail but requested a protection order be issued in favour of the victim and her family. The prosecution also asked the court to order a ban on the publication of the name of the victim, who they said had been heavily traumatised by the events.

In response, this request was replicated by the defence for their client. As the accused had been in a relationship with the alleged victim for four months, his being named in the media could lead to the woman also being identified, argued the defence.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli granted the accused bail against a deposit of €1,500 and a personal guarantee of €6,000. The court also granted a protection order to the woman and her family, and explained to the accused that any infringements on the protection order would also be considered as a breach of bail and would result in his punishment becoming much worse.