Legal expert concludes victim should face criminal charges

A court expert feels there exist enough elements for the police to press criminal charges against the father of a 21-year-old woman accused of stabbing him.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli explained that she had been appointed court expert in the case of Analise Galea, 21, who is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of her father Paul in their Birkirkara home on August 12.

She was also accused of seriously injuring him when she stabbed him in the stomach and of carrying a knife without a licence.

Dr Dalli was tasked with compiling a report after listening to all the witnesses in the case and examining the scene of the crime. In her testimony yesterday, Dr Dalli exhibited her report and explained that the conclusions she had reached contrasted with the two charges -attempted murder and carrying a knife without a licence - pressed by the prosecution.

She also concluded there were enough elements to take criminal action against Mr Galea.

In yesterday's sitting presided over by Magistrate Miriam Hayman, Mr Galea was called to testify but chose not to on grounds that he could incriminate himself.

The accused's brother and sister chose not to testify too as the law allowed them not to give evidence against their sibling.

At the end of the sitting, the magistrate ruled there were sufficient reasons for Ms Galea to be indicted.

The magistrate granted her bail against a personal guarantee of Lm2,000 after hearing that she was a single mother with two children to maintain. She will be residing with her mother.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Brincat is representing Ms Galea.