A prison inmate yesterday told a court how he protected his mother from his violent father and ended up being stabbed in the leg as a teenager during one of the more serious fights.

The man, now 32, showed Magistrate Antonio Mizzi a scar on his left leg where he claimed his 55-year-old father had stabbed him as he shielded his mother. The prisoner, who is serving time for his involvement in a hold-up, is not being named to protect his mother’s identity .

The father is charged with seriously injuring the woman on March 22, threatening her with a metal pipe, injuring her and carrying an unlicensed knife.

The son said life at home was difficult and his parents would fight often. Asked if his parents were equally physically aggressive when the fights started, he answered firmly: the fights involved his father beating his mother.

Also taking the witness stand, the victim said she wanted to forgive her husband and refused to testify, as is her right by law.

Asked by the magistrate, she said had gone to the polyclinic reluctantly.

Police Inspector Frankie Sammut prosecuted. The case continues.