Court hears of row between man and ex-girlfriend

A court yesterday heard how a man smashed the windscreen of his former girlfriend's car and went on to seriously injure her brother with a bottle.

Police Constable Matthew Pace told Magistrate Edwina Grima that the incident took place on June 10 in Żejtun.

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against father and son Carmelo Portelli, 58, of Santa Luċija and Stephen Portelli, 30, of Tarxien. They are pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Alistair Bianco, slightly injuring Chantelle Bianco, breaching the peace and damaging Ms Bianco's car.

PC Pace explained that Ms Bianco told the police that she had dated Stephen Portelli for a while but had split up about a week before the incident. She recounted that, on the night in question, Stephen Portelli had called her incessantly on her mobile phone and had followed her home.

Ms Bianco said that, when she arrived home, her former boyfriend alighted from his car and smashed her car's windscreen. She called her brother for assistance and when he arrived her former boyfriend and his father started hitting him on his head with a bottle.

PC Pace told the court that, in his statement, Stephen Portelli claimed that Ms Bianco had reversed her car ramming his when she had arrived outside her house.

The witness said Alistair Bianco told the police that, when he arrived on the scene, he saw Mr Portelli shouting at his sister telling her to alight from her car.

The case continues.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for the Portellis.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto appeared in parte civile for the Biancos.