A landlord was given a 15-month suspended jail term for breaking the hand of a woman who complained about a mouldy sofa in a rental apartment.

Carmelo Delia, 56, of Xgħajra, was found guilty of seriously injuring Charmaine Muscat and slightly injuring her former partner, Adrian Farrugia, on November 8, 2011.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri heard Ms Muscat testify that she had gone to Mr Farrugia’s apartment in Xgħajra. The two have a daughter. She noticed that a sofa there was mouldy and pointed it out because she was concerned about her daughter’s health.

Mr Farrugia told her to call Joyce Delia, the landlady. She did so and Ms Delia – who lived in the same block – went to the apartment, where an argument ensued. Soon after, Ms Delia’s husband, Carmel, and their son arrived and the two men assaulted Ms Muscat.

She said Mr Delia grabbed her top and slammed her against the wall, then grabbed a chair and threatened to kill her daughter, who was there crying. A neighbour intervened to calm things down and phoned Mr Farrugia.

When Mr Farrugia arrived, Mr Delia and his son started beating him. Ms Muscat intervened to stop them and Mr Delia started punching her, hurting her face and fracturing a bone in her left hand.

Mr Delia denied beating Ms Muscat. He said he and his son had gone to the apartment after hearing his wife call for help. When they got there, his wife was on the floor and, when his son went into the apartment and he tried to follow, Ms Muscat hit him with her shoes.

When Mr Farrugia arrived, he hit Mr Delia’s son. Mr Delia said he could have “scratched” Ms Muscat as he pulled his son away.

After evaluating the testimony and the medical evidence, the magistrate found Mr Delia guilty of seriously injuring Ms Muscat and slightly injuring Mr Farrugia.

He was, however, cleared of hurling objects at them and threatening them and was sentenced to 15 months in jail suspended for three years.