Man accused of attempting to kill his wife again denied bail

A Siggiewi man, accused of trying to kill his wife, remained in preventive custody after a Criminal Court judge denied his request for bail because of the fear that he might influence witnesses or commit another crime.

Mr Justice Vincent De Gaetano turned down the application filed by Anthony Falzon on May 28, in which he requested to be granted bail pending the outcome of his court case.

Falzon, 46, is undergoing court proceedings before the Magistrates' Courts. He is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of his wife Lourdes, by shooting at her in front of Shopwise supermarket in Qormi, seriously injuring her, keeping and carrying a firearm and ammunition without a licence, and endangering people's lives by shooting in public on April 5 at about noon.

Albert Libreri, for Falzon, argued that the compilation of evidence against his client had been extended in order for his wife to testify, and that it had lasted one month and three weeks.

He said his client had been held under arrest since April 5, or for almost two months. He called on the court to note that Falzon was a 46-year-old, mature man. He was willing to keep away from Marsascala, where his wife lived, and not to visit his children at work, if granted bail.

Dr Libreri said Falzon was a contractor and, therefore, had a job to occupy his time and thoughts.

But Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara, prosecuting, said that several witnesses had not yet testified and some of them were Falzon's relatives. There was the risk that Falzon would influence them or intimidate them if granted bail.

He called on the judge to take the nature of the crime into consideration, especially the fact that Falzon had fired a gun in a public area and could have injured other people besides his wife.

After hearing the submissions made by both parties, Mr Justice De Gaetano ruled he was not convinced that Falzon should be granted the benefit of bail. This was because of the risk that he might interfere or attempt to interfere with witnesses or with the course of justice or that he might commit another offence.