A man who last February assaulted three policemen in the law courts building after an argument with his estranged wife was jailed and fined today. 

Antonio Briffa, 38, from Luqa was attending a court sitting last February 21 when the argument broke out. As the situation escalated, Mr Briffa assaulted Police Inspector Hubert Cini and police constables Brenton Gilford and Clint Bohm who were trying to restore order.

The police inspector and one of the other officers were slightly injured.  

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud declared that there was sufficient proof of the aggression. Bearing in mind that this violent episode had taken place inside the law courts, the case was even more serious, he said.

"This court will not permit such irresponsible behaviour," the magistrate declared, adding that instances of violence against public officers, such as wardens, seemed to be on the rise.

While not finding Mr Briffa guilty of having violated two previous judgments granting him a conditional discharge, the court declared him guilty of the assault against the police officers, his estranged wife and her lawyer.  

The court condemned the man to a six months jail term and a fine of €4,000, while ordering that he be kept in preventive custody pending a possible appeal.

The court also declared that a one year jail term suspended for two years imposed by another sentence in August 2015, was to restart afresh from the date of this judgment. 

The court issued a Protection Order for three years in favour of the victims of the aggression as well as a Treatment Order for three years intended to help Mr Briffa overcome his psychological problems. Court expenses amounting to €462.27 are also to be borne by the accused.