Updated 7.50 pm - Pasqualino Cefai this evening pleaded not guilty to assaulting and threatening Magistrate Miriam Hayman in an incident in her courtroom.

The 34-year-old Gozitan, who is serving a seven-year jail term over a stabbing incident in a Gozo courtroom, was charged with threatening the magistrate, offending her, resisting the police, injuring a police constable, disobeying police orders and breaking a glass pane in court.

He was further charged with assaulting three police inspectors, a police sergeant and a police constable, breaching the peace, swearing in public and relapsing.

In comments to the media after the arraignment, Mr Cefai said he had a case before Magistrate Hayman over bank overdrafts and he was trying his best to start his life afresh. However, he was finding obstacles.

Mr Cefai attempted to assault the magistrate at about 11.30 pm but was restrained by the police and escorted out of the courtroom.