A man allegedly used a baseball bat to damage his estranged wife’s car as their four children sat in it, just hours after the pair were trying to come to an amicable settlement in the Family Court.

The incident occurred on Wednesday and the 31-year-old man was yesterday charged with harassing and threatening the woman. Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto said the incident was sparked off when his client spotted his estranged wife with another man and he reacted.

Lawyer Kathleen Grima, appearing for the woman, and Police Inspector Therese Sciberras replied the case was not so simple. There had been a number of other incidents in which he had beaten her up. The police officer said in Wednesday’s incident, the man first chased the woman in his car and then blocked her path and emerged holding a knife. He then smashed her car with a baseball bat.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit remanded the accused in custody after declaring he could not be trusted and could re-offend.

Names have been withheld to protect the children’s identity.

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