A man charged with beating a friend’s partner with a rolling pin and assaulting police officers who tried to restrain him retracted a guilty plea this morning, after learning that he would be liable to a prison term and a hefty fine.

Abshir Socdaal Cabdiqaadir, from Somalia, was arraigned before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja in connection with an incident which happened yesterday evening at his apartment in Zabbar.

Police inspector Hubert Cini told the court that following a report that the accused was beating a Somali woman from Fgura with a rolling pin, officers were dispatched onsite.

He added that the defendant was very aggressive towards the police, slightly injuring one. The man was also charged with damaging public property and causing bodily harm to the woman.

The defendant, who needed an interpreter as he could not understand neither Maltese nor English, initially filed a guilty plea, but when the Magistrate explained to him that this could result in up to two years imprisonment changed his mind.

The defence asked the prosecution to produce all evidence straight away, but the inspector informed the court that several witnesses could not be present as they were still recovering from the injuries.

The court agreed to the defendant's bail request against a deposit of €300. But since the man had no financial means, he was remanded in custody until he was able to procure the required amount.