Court orders man's re-arrest

A woman yesterday explained how her brother-in-law assaulted her, her two sisters and their mother outside their home last month.

Lucienne Saliba was testifying before Magistrate Giovanni Grixti in the compilation of evidence against Charles Cassar, 34, of Xghajra.

Cassar is pleading not guilty to assaulting his wife Silvia and her two sisters, Christine Mifsud and Saliba, seriously injuring Mifsud and slightly injuring Saliba in Zejtun on February 28.

He also pleaded not guilty to causing damage and breaching the peace.

Saliba said she was in the bathroom when she heard the sound of breaking glass and when she went downstairs she saw Cassar standing outside. "When my mother went outside he hit her and when I went out he beat me, too. I ended up with six or seven stitches on my ear and head," she said.

She went on to explain how Cassar hurled a stone at her younger sister, Mifsud, and broke her arm. He also threatened to stab her other sister - his wife.

The witness explained that the incident happened when Cassar took his four-year-old son back to their house after spending time with him.

At the end of yesterday's sitting Magistrate Grixti ordered Cassar's re-arrest after hearing that he had breached bail conditions when he went to work while under "house arrest." The magistrate ordered Cassar to pay the Lm1,300 personal guarantee and Lm700 deposit, by which he was bound, to the government.

Inspector Nadia Lanzon prosecuted.

Dr Roberto Montalto and Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for Cassar.