A man who five years ago stabbed his estranged wife in a fit of jealousy, leaving her on the ground on the brink of death, has been sentenced to a jail term of six years and a fine of €116.47.

He admitted to the attempted homicide before a criminal court instead of undergoing trial by jury.

Kevin Micallef, 41, from Żurrieq, had hatched a plan to murder his estranged wife after the latter had entered into a relationship with another man after the breakdown of the couple’s marriage.

Consumed by jealousy, the man began to follow his former wife, shadowing her movements and even arming himself with a penknife so as to put his plan into action at the first possible opportunity.

On the night of May 4, 2012 the accused lay in wait for his wife while she visited a Birkirkara bar run by her new partner. As the woman drove away from the site at around 10.30pm accompanied by her friend’s brother seated in the passenger seat, the accused tailgated her car with the headlights shining blindly.

Getting out of her car to confront the driver of the other car, the woman allegedly came face to face with her estranged husband who drew out his penknife and stabbed her repeatedly on her chest and abdomen. The woman had to be rushed to hospital in a critical condition where she was given life-saving surgery.

The third party seated in the woman’s car ended up suffering wounds on his hands as he intervened, trying to shield the victim from her aggressor. The woman’s friend was also slightly injured in the attack as he rushed to her assistance.

Following the violent episode, the accused had allegedly turned the knife upon himself stabbing himself in the abdomen.

The man pleaded guilty to the attempted murder, harassment and intimidation of his estranged wife. He was also accused of having carried an unlicensed weapon and with having slightly injured another two men in the aggression.

The criminal court, presided over by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, upon the accused’s own admission and after a plea-bargaining exercise between the parties, sentenced the man to a 6-year jail term and a fine of €116.47.

The court also ordered him to pay €7155 by way of court expert expenses.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Albert Zerafa were defence counsel.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia appeared parte civile.