Charged with drunken threats against wife and daughter

A 52-year-old man was yesterday charged with threatening his wife and daughter with a knife in a drunken family argument on Monday.

He was granted bail despite the prosecuting inspector warning that the situation was still "volatile".

Joseph Micallef, who has an alcohol problem, allegedly went home drunk and got into an argument with his daughter Kirsty. As the argument escalated, the girl's mother, Dorianne, tried to intervene and he allegedly turned on her, brandishing a knife.

The girl phoned the police but when they got there he allegedly tried to resist arrest.

In yesterday's arraignment, Mr Micallef pleaded not guilty to threatening his wife and daughter, threatening his wife with a knife and carrying the weapon without a licence.

Magistrate Michael Mallia granted the man bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €2,000 and ordered him to attend an alcohol rehabilitation programme.

Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted.

Lawyers Gianluca Caruana Curran, Gianella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio appeared for the man.