An ice-cream vendor was yesterday charged with running over her boyfriend and breaking his leg in an argument during which he allegedly pelted her car with stones.

Anita Azzopardi, 35, pleaded not guilty to trying to kill Alfred Mamo at about 11pm on Wednesday near an ice-cream kiosk on the Coast Road in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco told Magistrate Ian Farrugia that her client, a mother of three, had been attacked by Mr Mamo who was intoxicated and threw stones at her Honda Civic car before the incident occurred. Ms Azzopardi, the lawyer continued, took the victim to hospital for treatment and had a clean police record.

Police Inspector Josric Mifsud said the police had received reports from her husband, Kevin, that she had left their young children, aged 12, eight and seven, alone while spending the night out. She had also tried to run him over and had damaged Mr Mamo’s motorcycle in an incident outside the Russian Embassy.

The prosecuting officer told the magistrate he wanted to let him know what sort of person stood before him.

Following a request for bail, which the police objected to, Dr de Marco said the accused was unlikely to abscond.

Magistrate Farrugia granted Ms Azzopardi bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €10,000.