A man was remanded in custody on Monday after being accused of seriously injuring his partner when he threw acid at her and assaulted her with a screwdriver.

The incident took place in March.

In April a court had ruled that Noel Calleja, 38, was not fit to stand trial at that time. He then underwent psychological monitoring.

Mr Calleja was charged with having attacked the victim, Jacqueline Depasquale, in Marsa, by means of a screwdriver and subsequently by dousing her with acid.

He was further charged with unlicenced possession of a sharp, pointed instrument when committing the alleged crime, with having breached the public good order and also with having breached earlier bail conditions.

A request for bail by defence counsel Josette Sultana brought about strong objections by the prosecution not only because of the serious nature of the offences charged, but also in the light of the man's “colourful criminal record since 2001.”

He pleaded not guilty.

Mr Calleja was on bail for having, in 2015 allegedly also assaulted the woman. He had also allegedly stabbed her in 2012. 

After the 2012 stabbing, Mr Calleja spent 14 hours on the run followed by five hours in which he threatened to jump off a flagpole on the roof in a private residence not far from where the stabbing had occurred.