Cleared of injuring brother

A man charged with attempted serious injury of his former partner and her husband, who is also his brother, was yesterday acquitted after a magistrate ruled that the alleged victim’s testimony had not been substantiated.

The man, 51, of Cospicua, was charged with trying to seriously injure the couple in a dispute over visitation rights to seven children, whom the accused had with the woman.

The woman, who is now married to his brother, alleged that he drove at them at speed and broke her husband’s ankle. The incident occurred on August 2, 2006 in ­Valletta.

The argument was sparked off when the accused picked up three of his children from catechism lessons on the afternoon in question.

The children told their mother about this and the woman and her husband went to speak to the accused.

An argument ensued during which the husband broke his ankle. He told the court that his brother ran him over but the accused held that his brother jumped onto the bonnet of the car in an attempt to stop him from leaving the scene.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti ruled that the version given by the alleged victims was not substantiated by evidence and acquitted him. He said it was possible that the victim did actually jump onto the car.

The names of all involved are not being mentioned to protect the identity of the children.