A husband who allegedly broke down the door to his family home after receiving a legal letter ordering him to move out and stay away has ended up behind bars.
Dennis Zammit, a 43-year old rabbit slaughterer currently out of work on account of an injury, will remain in prison until he forks out a €5,000 bail payment imposed by the court.
Mr Zammit was marched to court on Friday after he allegedly breached the terms of separation agreement for the umpteenth time.
Earlier this month, Mr Zammit had allegedly assaulted his estranged wife, prompting the intervention of his daughter and a friend who ended up slightly injured at the hands of the aggressor.
Prosecuting senior inspector Trevor Micallef, shedding light upon the background to yesterday’s arrest, explained how the man would not take no for an answer, repeatedly insisting upon his right to share the matrimonial home in spite of the separation contract declaring otherwise.
He had even filed a false report with the police against his estranged wife and had taken away the family dog, causing the woman and their daughter to live in constant fear of violence.
Matters allegedly come to a head on Thursday evening when the man, reportedly infuriated by a legal letter ordering him out of the home, broke down the family door before the arrival of the police who arrested him on site.
During his arraignment the man pleaded not guilty to multiple charges relating to threats and harassment, exercising a pretended right, slight injuries, wife assault, damage to third party property and refusal to obey police orders.
Defence lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar, making submissions on bail, argued that a balance had to be attained between the safety of the alleged victims and his client’s right to freedom, pointing out that strict bail conditions could ensure this.
Moreover, the man was ready to take up residence at his mother’s home in Marsa, keeping well away from his matrimonial home in Pembroke.
However, both Inspector Micallef as well as parte civile lawyers insisted that the situation had been ongoing and that the man’s estranged family was facing real danger.
Magistrate Grazio Mercieca, presiding over the arraignment, ordered the man to approach the bench and directly asked him whether he could assure the court that he would not breach the law if granted bail.
“Yes, most certainly. As certain as death,” the man replied, limping on account of his injury as he walked towards the front of the courtroom.
The court decreed that bail would only be granted against a deposit of €5,000 so as to make sure that the alleged offender would not be let off “scot free.” The court further imposed a personal guarantee of €10,000 and a curfew between 8.30pm and 7.30am, strictly barring the man from approaching the family home and his wife’s place of work. A Protection Order was also issued in favour of the alleged victims.
Effective release from custody was, however, unlikely since the man declared that he lacked the necessary €5,000 to get out of jail.
Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi, Rene Darmanin and Graziella Cricchiola appeared parte civile.