A man who attacked and broke his former partner’s foot in court while still handcuffed and under police escort was jailed yesterday.

A jury found James Demanuele, 37, guilty by seven votes to two of the assault, of threatening to kill the woman and of relapsing. He was jailed for two years and nine months.

The jury panel on Monday heard the victim, Maria Elena Felice, testify that on December 9, 2008, at 10 a.m. the accused attacked her in an unprovoked manner on the second floor of the court house outside courtroom No. 17.

Ms Felice said she was outside the courtroom when Mr Demanuele demanded to know whom a set of mobile numbers belonged to. When she answered she did not know, he struck out with his hands and, as she fell to the ground, kicked her and broke a metatarsal bone in her foot.

Mr Demanuele has another pending court case involving violence against the same women after he allegedly attacked her in full view of a magistrate inside a courtroom after she had just testified.

Lawyer Maurizio Cordina from the Attorney General’s Office prosecuted. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared as legal aid.

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