Two accused of assaulting wife, girlfriend

A 34-year-old man ended up in court today, accused of assaulting his wife after he allegedly found her with another man.

The court was told that the man had called at his wife's flat in Tarxien just before 6 a.m. today and after finding her with another man, punched her and him and then dragged her out to his car and took her to his house - where he was found by the police.

The two are undergoing separation proceedings, but the accused told the court through his lawyers that his wife had sent him letters seeking a reconciliation, and he had therefore gone to speak to her.

The man was also accused of damaging the door to a block of flats and the door of his wife's flat. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The defence in its submissions also pointed out that the couple have two children, aged 10 and three.

Bail was granted against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and the man was ordered not to go near his wife when he went to see his children.

SOLDIER ARRAIGNED

In a separate case today, a 29-year-old soldier pleaded not guilty to having assaulted his former girlfriend at Valletta Waterfront, at about 5 a.m.

Ronnie Mackay, 29 of Hamrun, is alleged to have seen his girlfriend with another man. An argument ensued and he pushed her to the ground. She went to Valletta police station to file a report and he followed her inside, where he allegedly broke a window pane and resisted four officers.

He pleaded not guilty to assault, committing a crime he was duty-bound to prevent, harassing and threatening the woman and resisting the police.

Bail was granted against a personal guarantee of €3,000 and the man was ordered not to speak to his former girlfriend.