A man's fiancée allegedly stabbed him in the chest with a steak knife on Saturday afternoon in a fight over his refusal to take a shower.

Mandy Polidano, 22, was yesterday placed under house arrest after being charged with the attempted murder of Antoine Borg in the kitchen of the flat the couple share in Żurrieq. Mr Borg has since left hospital and has forgiven her, according to his lawyer.

Sources close to the case said he had just finished washing the car in the garage and had gone up to their apartment when she told him to take a shower because he might otherwise dirty the bed sheets. The couple were also due to go out and buy some items for their house in preparation for their wedding.

When he refused to take a shower, the couple got into a fight in the kitchen and she allegedly grabbed a steak knife and stabbed him in the chest, the sources said.

Ms Polidano pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of her fiancé and to seriously injuring him.

In submissions on bail, defence lawyer Joe Mifsud told the court that her husband-to-be had since left hospital and had forgiven her.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera granted her bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000 and ordered that she remain under house arrest at a different address.

Police Inspectors Daniel Zammit and Priscilla Caruana prosecuted.