Man who insulted his wife gets fine instead of prison

A man who was sentenced to a month in jail for verbally insulting his wife has had the punishment reduced to a €58 fine on appeal.

The man had used strong insulting words in an argument sparked when she returned home late one evening.

The incident happened last April 29. The woman was working as a maid at the time and returned to their Birkirkara flat at about 10.20 p.m. Her 45-year-old husband flew into a rage as soon as she walked through the door.

Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano, presiding over the Criminal Court of Appeal, said the court was satisfied that the accused had actually committed the crime but felt that, in the circumstances, a prison sentence was excessive.

The man had been found guilty twice before of the arbitrary exercise of a pretended right, being conditionally discharged on both occasions. In 2006, he received a 30-month jail term after a trial by jury for seriously injuring his brother-in-law.

The Chief Justice stressed that the man would end up behind bars again even for a mere contravention if he carried on this way. However, this time around the nature of the case did not merit a prison term. For this reason, he revoked the prison term and instead imposed a fine of €58.23.

No names are being published in order to protect the woman's identity.