A 15-year-old girl who is three months pregnant was charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a 14-year-old when she found out her boyfriend was seeing the victim.

The girl, who was accompanied by her 16-year-old sister and 14-year-old cousin, hit the victim three times in the back with a penknife in St Nicholas Street, Valletta, at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, police sources said. The victim is recovering in hospital.

Defence lawyers José Herrera and Franco Debono said this was a case of self-defence, adding there were deep rooted social problems within the family.

The cousin’s father had been murdered, the defence team said.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona said social problems were no excuse to carry a penknife and Dr Herrera replied his client carried the weapon because she had been attacked by an Arab man and wanted to protect herself.

As they gave their particulars to the court, the 14-year-old said she was still at school and the sisters said they helped their mother at home.

The accused denied trying to kill the victim and seriously injuring her. Her sister and cousin pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring the girl.

All three denied breaching the peace and harassing the victim.

The court granted the 15-year-old bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000 and her sister and cousin were granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000.

A curfew was imposed on the three of them.