A man who was accused of threatening to kill his estranged wife was today warned by a magistrate that if he really loved his seven-year-old son, he would stay out of trouble and away from anything that could see him spending time in jail. 

Magistrate Ian Farrugia made this plea when the 36-year-old man, who cannot be mentioned by court order, told him that it was his love for his son that got him into trouble.

"You're saying that but I tell you that you are here because you do not respect your son enough. If you really love your son you would stay out of jail and not get yourself into issues that could send you to jail. If you truly love the boy then you should stay out of jail and live a normal life for him. I hope you choose the right path from now on," the magistrate told him. 

The man, from Luqa, pleaded not guilty to threatening his wife, harassing her, threatening his mother-in-law, breaching the peace, misusing telecommunications equipment, disobeying police orders and escaping from police custody. The case happened on July 25 and again last Tuesday. 

Sources said that when the police went to arrest him, he began running around his car and gave them a hard time trying to apprehend him. 

Magistrate Farrugia refused a request for bail but upheld a request for a ban the publication of the names of the people involved in the case, primarily in the best interest of the minor. 

Inspector Paula Ciantar prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Yana Micallef Stafrace appeared for the accused.