The defence lawyer of a man who attacked his wife’s lover with a knife after he caught them having sex yesterday insisted his client’s actions were “excusable at law”.

The 38-year-old man from Paola, whose name cannot be published by court order, returned home early from work and found his wife in bed with another man.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona heard how the lover attacked the husband with a cup he found on the bedside table. So the husband ran to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and returned to the bedroom where he stabbed the lover in the face and hand.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto said his client was threatened and provoked and was reacting with sudden passion when he found himself in that situation. The incident happened at the Paola matrimonial home on Friday at 10.30am.

The case was deferred for judgment. In the meantime, the man was granted bail against a €5,000 personal guarantee and on condition he lives with his parents and does not approach his wife.

Police inspector Spiridione Zammit requested the court to issue a protection order for both victims but Magistrate Micallef Trigona turned it down, saying “it was not necessary”.