Man remanded in custody, charged with brother’s attempted murder

A 23-year-old taxi driver from Santa Venera has been charged with the attempted murder of his brother in a stabbing at his mother's home, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Carlos Calleja pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted homicide of Emanuel Calleja, grievously injuring him, carrying a knife during the commission of a crime against the person, carrying a knife in public without a police permit to do so and insulting and threatening the man.

Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech heard Inspector Elliott Magro explain that the victim had suffered a stab wound, thought to have been caused by pen knife, which led to a lot of internal bleeding in his abdomen.

The victim was no longer in danger of dying, having undergone emergency surgery and was in a stable condition, the police officer said.

Calleja's defence counsel, lawyer Roberto Montalto, requested bail.

This was objected to by the prosecution, who pointed out that the accused lives in the same home as his brother, together with other witnesses. They also work together and the family business operates out of the same residence. 

Montalto submitted that alternative living arrangements could be made for the accused. One witness is the man's mother, he said.

“We have to appreciate the sensitivity of the case. The mother will not take sides. If not one operates the garage all three people will suffer.”

The court had the option of imposing a number of conditions to guarantee that the accused does not attempt to contact or suborn any witnesses, he said.

But the court was unmoved. “They have made their bed now they have to lie in it,” the magistrate said, adding that the court felt that bail was not ideal in the circumstances, as the court was yet to hear witnesses in the case and the accused lives with the alleged victim.

The court denied bail. The issue of whether the men's mother, who was going to go visit the son in hospital, should be allowed to explain to him what had taken place in court arose. Turning to the mother, the magistrate said they would hear it in the news anyway. “You are mother to both of them till the end.”