A wife was paralysed with fear after five-and-a-half years of continuous domestic violence, including an attempted murder, which started right after their honeymoon, a court heard today.

Her 42-year-old husband, who cannot be mentioned by order of the court, has been charged with the attempted murder, causing her slight injuries, damaging her car, holding her against her will, threatening and assaulting her.

The very first incident occurred right after they had arrived in Malta following their honeymoon, when the couple had an argument which culminated in the man attempting to choke her. It was only after the woman began to lose consciousness that he released his grip. 

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi submitted a request for bail. While acknowledging that the case was a thorny one, the accused and his wife had a good relationship and met regularly over their five-year-old daughter, Dr Azzopardi argued.

The man had already offered his wife – who had since moved out and is currently residing with her family – to live at their family home with their daughter while assuring her that he would move out of the residence himself.

The offer was repeated before Magistrate Josette Demicoli.

Prosecuting officer Joseph Busuttil objected to bail, arguing that many civilian witnesses – including the victim and other family members – were yet to testify. He could not risk such evidence being tampered with, especially after the wife had taken the massive step of filing the police report, after five and a half years of silence, he said. 

Moreover, Insp. Busuttil continued, the accused’s own sister had even corroborated the victim’s version of events.

While the accused’s offer of clearing out of the marital home was appreciated, being remanded in custody would afford the peace of mind that no one would get hurt, Insp. Busuttil said.

Police Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo told the court that the woman only kept up the rapport with her husband upon his own recommendation that she should do so since the accused could not be denied the right of seeing his daughter.

Tampering of evidence could lead to the witness ultimately being declared hostile if she was so consumed by fear that she decided not to confirm the charges brought against her perpetrator, the superintendent argued.

The accused also required psychological assistance to help him deal with his anger management problems – a view which both parties subscribed to.

In view of the seriousness of the charges as well as out of a fear of the evidence being tampered with, the court turned down the request for bail and the accused was remanded in custody.

The court issued a treatment order in order for the accused to receive the treatment he required.

A protection order was also issued in favour of the woman and her family.

Lawyer Stephanie Caruana appeared for the woman.