Police disarm knife-wielding man, court told

Police officers had to wrestle a 30-centimetre diving knife off an Italian man trying to break into his girlfriend's flat before they arrested him on Thursday, a court heard yesterday.

Biagio Carmelo Gagliano, 40, who has been living in Malta for some years, has a history of domestic violence in relation to his girlfriend, Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia said in court.

A terrified woman sought the assistance of the police late at night, sources said yesterday. When the police arrived, they spotted a man standing outside the door of the woman's apartment in Naxxar trying to force open the door with a 30-centimetre long knife. The sources said the man began waiving the knife menacingly at the seven officers who arrived on the scene.

They wrestled the weapon out of his hands before subduing him. Upon frisking him they found a second butterfly knife, the sources said.

Mr Gagliano pleaded not guilty to charges of threatening his girlfriend and causing over €1,164 in damage to her house in Naxxar. He was also charged with possessing a knife without a licence and resisting police arrest.

In requesting bail, defence lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores said his client is established in Malta and there was no fear of him fleeing the country. However, the prosecuting officer insisted that the accused has no other place where to live other than his girlfriend's.

The prosecution added that the Mr Gagliano had caused a fuss while being held at the police lock-up, shouting and being unruly. The court was to remand him in custody at the forensic unit of Mount Carmel Hospital because he might be a danger to himself.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona remanded the accused in custody at Mount Carmel and made a recommendation to the relevant authorities to ensure Mr Gagliano gets the help required.