Court grants tagged bail to man accused of assaulting partner

A court granted bail with electronic monitoring to a 22-year-old Żabbar man charged with assaulting his partner, Times of Malta reported.

The case stems from an alleged incident in Senglea on November 6 at about 5:40am. Inspector Colin Sheldon told the court that police received video footage last Sunday from a neighbour living near the accused and the alleged victim, and that the footage was passed to the Domestic Violence Unit.

After viewing it, Sheldon said, he informed his superiors he intended to request an arrest warrant. Police searched for the man several times but did not find him. On Tuesday, after learning police were looking for him, the accused contacted Inspector Stephen Gulia himself. He was then arrested and taken to police lock-up.

Sheldon also told the court that about 15 minutes after being taken into custody, the accused attempted to harm himself. He was taken by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, examined by a doctor and a psychiatrist, and released a short while later.

In court on Wednesday morning, the man denied the charges.

Sheldon said the footage appeared to show the alleged victim on a balcony stroking a dog before the accused approached her, tried to get her to her feet, took her inside, threw her onto a bed and hit her with a cushion.

The defence, in cross-examination, established three points Sheldon accepted: that the alleged victim had not filed a report against the accused, that she was under arrest for breaching bail conditions, and that she had a serious drug problem. Sheldon also confirmed that, shortly before the alleged assault, the woman had thrown two objects at the accused, though neither hit him. He further confirmed that the accused could be heard saying, “How can I carry on like this with you?”, apparently referring to her drug problem.

The court still imposed conditions with some bite. Bail was granted subject to electronic monitoring, a curfew and reporting to a police station three times a week. The accused was also ordered to deposit €200 and provide a personal guarantee of €10,000.

Magistrate Franco Agius also issued a five-year protection order in favour of the alleged victim.