Man with 28 convictions jailed for stabbing partner

Antoine (known as David) Monsigneur, 38 of St Paul's Bay, was today jailed for four years and three months after he admitted attempting to grievously injure his former partner Angela Borg.

Ms Borg told the court that she had been living with her partner for six months. On February 23, 2004, they had a argument after he lost some cash. He started hitting her, and as she got out of their apartment he followed her and continued hitting her. She got back in and he struck her with a knife, suffering injuries to her chest and hand.

Her partner then took her to the health centre, where she was found to need 23 sutures.

Asked why she had originally given a different version of events to doctors and the police, she said that she had been afraid of Mr Monsigneur.

Her doctor told the court that Ms Borg had suffered various stab wounds.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera noted that Mr Monsigneur had already been convicted by the court 28 times, including convictions for aggravated theft, drug possession and resisting the police. He had been given various suspended sentences and effective jail terms as well as being put on probation.

The court said the accused had not changed his ways and it therefore had to impose a sentence that made him realise his mistakes.

This case was particularly ugly as Ms Borg would have died had she not been given prompt medical action, the court said.