A Birkirkara man was this afternoon remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to punching his girlfriend during an altercation and injuring their two-year-old child in the process.

Both mother and baby were hospitalised and kept for observation, the court heard, with the mother having suffered a broken nose.

Inspector Daryl Borg told Magistrate Giovanni Grixti that the incident happened during a family argument which saw 29-year-old Jonathan Sciberras going on a rampage at his girlfriend’s Floriana home, causing more than €2,500 in damage.

The inspector said that Mr Sciberras had punched his girlfriend in the face, breaking her nose and several teeth, before attempting to take the child away, injuring him in the process.

Mr Sciberras pleaded not guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm and voluntary damage, carrying a sharp and pointed instrument without a police permit, breaching the peace and relapsing.

The defence requested bail but the prosecution objected to the request, since the witnesses still had to testify. Magistrate Grixti declined the request and Mr Sciberras was remanded in custody.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Angie Muscat appeared for the man.

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