A couple continued to live together after separating seven years ago and the wife continued to work at the husband's snack bar despite incidents of domestic violence, a court heard today.

Details of the strange relationship emerged during proceedings against the woman’s husband, a 33-year-old man from Fgura, who is pleading not guilty to threatening, provoking and slightly injuring her during an argument in Valletta.

The incident happened yesterday and the police were alerted about the case by one of the couple’s sons who filed a report.

As the estranged couple continued trading charges even in the courtroom, Magistrate Ian Farrugia who was presiding the case, remarked that such a situation was “not right”.

Inspector Chris Frendo, who led the prosecution, recounted how the couple had continued to bicker even when the police were on site.

He added that prior to this incident, five other reports of domestic violence between the two have been filed.

The wife told the court that her estranged husband had long been threatening her, had not affected any alimony payments and he was not paying her for her work at his Gudja snack bar.

Defence counsel Joe Giglio remarked that this case was “not right” as it did not make sense for the woman to keep on living with her estranged husband if he was allegedly mistreating her so much.

The court granted the man bail against a personal guarantee of €2,000 and issued a general protection order for his wife and their two children. However, it was pointed out that the accused would still be able to talk to them.

On her part, the wife said she did not want any more contact with her estranged husband. The shenanigans continued, with Magistrate Ian Farrugia eventually telling her to calm down and leave the courtroom.