A German woman who abducted her three-year-old son from her former partner last year appeared to use a taser gun on her ex-partner’s girlfriend outside the couple’s Żabbar home yesterday in another kidnap attempt.

The incident, captured on closed circuit television cameras, shows the Maltese partner of the child’s German father – Nico Leonhardt – park her car outside their home and the child climbing out of the back seat at about 3pm.

The boy – who lives with his father following a court order granting him custody – is seen outside the main gate when, suddenly, a dark-coloured car pulls up nearby and two women run out. The Maltese woman grabs hold of the child and runs while the other two women gave chase.

The German woman allegedly holding a taser gun was identified as the child’s mother – Petra Nemet – who had abducted him last year.

Speaking at the Paola health centre last night, the Maltese woman claimed to have been hit by the taser on her side and face but said she continued to hold on to the child while the women beat her.

A relative of the Maltese woman, who lives next door, realised what was happening and took her and the child into his home. The two other women then ran back to their car and drove away.

More in The Sunday Times of Malta.