A 40-year-old man was denied bail after he pleaded not guilty to headbutting his wife who ended up with a broken nose.

Solomon Abebe Hilemariam, an Eritrean care worker residing in Valletta, was arraigned under arrest before magistrate Doreen Clarke this morning.

Police inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee charged the man with grievously injuring his wife, causing her to fear that violence would be used against her and threatening her.

The prosecution, objected to the man's bail request as he shared the victim's house. It also told the court that the police had received various reports about harassing phone calls which the man had allegedly made to his wife.

The defence, led by lawyer Yanika Bugeja, pointed out that a pastor had offered her client accommodation. The accused also wanted to take care of his daughter, who was in residential care.

Dr Bugeja told the court that her client had been told by his wife that she wanted to ruin his life and consequently did not want to have anything to do with her.

The court, however, denied the request at this stage in view of the possibility of the accused tampering with evidence. The court ordered the witness to be produced to testify within a fortnight.