A suicidal husband who stabbed his estranged wife multiple times in her stomach and then turned the knife on himself had been stalking her before the attack, a court heard yesterday.

The details of the stabbing emerged yesterday as Police Inspector Elton Taliana testified in the case against Kevin Micallef, 35, from Żurrieq, who is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of his estranged wife, Evelyn.

He is also denying slightly injuring her new partner, Josef Bonnici, and slightly injuring the 15-year-old brother of Mr Bonnici during the incident on May 4 last year in Birkirkara.

Taking the witness stand, Inspector Taliana said that, when he got to the scene, he found the accused being taken away in an ambulance. He saw blood stains on the road. Officers had found a penknife in a bush.

At one point he hooted the horn for her to stop and pull over

Inspector Taliana said Ms Micallef had filed police reports about her former husband stalking her. On the day in question, Mr Micallef had started following her in her car, in which Mr Bonnici and his brother rode as passengers. At one point he hooted the horn for her to stop and pull over.

A roadside argument followed and he stabbed her multiple times, also injuring the men during the fight which ensued. After this he turned the knife on himself.

The officer said they spoke to a number of witnesses at the scene. A man living opposite had phoned the police for assistance.

At the end of the sitting, Police Inspector Fabian Fleri told Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit that the case was now closed.

The accused is now able to present his own witnesses.

The case was deferred until early next year.

Mr Micallef is out on bail.