A man facing criminal action following a domestic argument on Sunday was acquitted after his partner withdrew her complaint on condition he moved out and never set foot inside the couple’s home again.

Chris Scerri, 39, from Pietà was arrested and charged on Tuesday over the incident which occurred when a row broke out inside the home he shared with his partner and their minor daughter.

The man was charged with having caused the woman to fear violence, threatened or insulted her, besides breaching bail conditions.

However, during the arraignment, the woman took the witness stand to declare under oath that she wished to withdraw her complaint and that she did not wish to testify against her partner in view of the fact that the two were the parents of a young girl.

On the strength of this declaration, the arrested man bound himself to move out of the couple’s home and never molest his partner again.

Duty magistrate Francesco Depasquale declared the proceedings exhausted and pronounced an acquittal.

Upon hearing Mr Scerri express his concern over personal possessions left behind at the family home, the magistrate ordered that the man was to be escorted by police officers to the residence so that he might retrieve his belongings.

Otherwise, he was to move out and not lay foot in there again.

Inspector Jonathan Ransley prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel. Lawyer Alfred Abela appeared parte civile.