Two men charged with domestic violence in separate arraignments

Two men were charged in court today over unrelated incidents of domestic violence.

The two men, both aged 48, from Swieqi and Pembroke respectively appeared in separate arraignments before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli this morning.

In the first case, Inspector Matthew Spagnol charged a man from Swieqi with slightly injuring his wife, attacking her, threatening to kill her and causing her to fear that he would be violent towards her during an argument on July 3 at around 6.30 am.

Inspector Spagnol told the court that the St Julian's police station had received a report of a probable domestic assault. The police were warned that the man kept weapons at his home, but a search of his property did not uncover any.

Defence lawyers Dean Hili and Veronique Dalli entered a plea of not guilty on the accused's behalf and requested bail. The prosecution did not object to the request, but pointed out that the accused lived with his wife. Dalli informed the court that the man could reside with his father in Valletta pending the outcome of court proceedings.

Bail was granted against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3000. The accused was also ordered to sign a bail book twice a week.

Inspector Spagnol also arraigned the second husband, who lives in Pembroke, and charged him with attacking his wife and threatening to kill her. In addition, the man was charged with committing an offence punishable by imprisonment during the operative period of a suspended sentence.

In this second case, Veronique Dalli appeared as parte civile for the accused's wife and explained that the couple, who are in the midst of separation proceedings, had an argument that boiled over into violence on Friday.

Furniture was broken and the accused had threatened to break her client's neck, the lawyer said.

The accused's defence counsel, lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha, entered a plea of not guilty and requested bail.

Inspector Spagnol did not object to bail, as long as the accused did not stay at the matrimonial home and on condition that a protection order be issued for his wife and 17-year old daughter.

The defence suggested that the accused could live in his caravan or in his garage and be prohibited from approaching the St. Julians or Pembroke areas.

Initially skeptical at this suggestion, the magistrate was eventually persuaded to grant bail after both the prosecution and parte civile voiced their approval of the proposal.

The man was released on bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €3500. A protection order was issued preventing him from approaching his wife or daughter and forbidding him from visiting St. Julians or Pembroke.