A 28-year-old man from Marsa was remanded in custody after appearing in court accused of threatening and harassing his former partner in an attempt to recover €2,500 for a car he had given her as a gift.
Newsbook reported that the accused, Braydon Pace, allegedly told the woman he would remove the car’s number plates and “smash everything there is” if she did not hand over the money. The case matters less for the sum involved than for what it suggests about enforcement: a court had already imposed a restraining order, and prosecutors said he breached it anyway.
Inspector Sherona Buhagiar told the court the investigation began after a report to the Domestic Violence Unit. The woman alleged that Pace had been calling her from a private number and threatening her. She also described finding him outside her door in October, insulting her, and said that in July she found notes behind her door containing insults and threats. When she told him she had seen them, she alleged, he laughed.
The court also heard that Pace had already admitted charges tied to domestic violence against the same woman in April. In this arraignment, he faced charges including breaching the restraining order.
The defence did not challenge the validity of the arrest but asked for bail. Defence lawyer Jacob Magri argued that the woman had called Pace and said a risk assessment placed the case at a low level of risk.
The prosecution objected, arguing that the accused had already been given more than one chance and had breached a court order meant to protect the woman.
The court refused bail and remanded Pace in custody. That is the concrete decision in the case so far. The allegations themselves still have to be tested at trial.
Harvey Jr. 
Isla Camilleri 
Alex de Valletta