Updated 12.30pm with court details
A 19-year old pregnant woman from Vittoriosa was denied bail on Thursday over the attempted murder of seven persons in a fracas in Ħamrun.
Natasha Bugeja was charged with driving her car in the direction of several pedestrians and then smashed it into another vehicle belonging to some of the victims. Inside the rammed car was an 11-month old baby and a seven-year old girl, the court heard.
Read: Four injured, car damaged in big Hamrun fight
The fight broke out January 7 on Abela Scolaro Street around 6pm.
It involved the Pace family, one of whose members, Brandon Pace, had been stabbed to death in another street fight in Ħamrun months ago.
The woman then sped off and after leaving her car in Marsa returned to the scene of the fight with her brother.
She was subsequently arrested, treated in hospital and later given police bail until fit to appear in court.
The woman ought to have reflected both as an expectant mother and carer before she did what she did- Magistrate
The three-month pregnant woman was escorted to court after being given medical clearance.
Defence counsel Arthur Azzopardi said: "I don't wish to be misunderstood. We are not using the pregnancy isssue as excuse for bail. We are not trying to play down the incident."
Lawyer Franco Debono, also defence counsel, pointed out that his client was a carer with a cancer patient who would end up without help if she were to be denied bail.
Inspector Elliott Magro explained there had been no problems while the woman was under police bail.
Magistrate Joseph Mifsud told the court the child is to be protected from the moment of conception and when bearing a child one must be careful where to go and what to do.
"The woman ought to have reflected both as an expectant mother and carer before she did what she did," the magistrate declared, turning down the request for bail.
The magistrate appealed to the director of Corradino Correctional Facility to give all necessary help to the woman especially in view of her pregnancy.
The charges included the intent to place the life of seven persons in manifest danger, inflicting slight injuries on four of them, driving a car in dangerous and reckless manner, causing damage to other vehicles, carrying a sharp, pointed instrument without police licence, breaching public order, and carrying out threats.
She was also accused of harassing two of her victims via misuse of electronic equipment.
Criminal steps are also to be taken against other persons allegedly involved in the fight.