A young man with an anger management problem was placed under a three-year probation order after he pleaded guilty to slightly injuring his wife in the course of a violent row which took place along the Ta’ Xbiex seafront.
The aggressor, whose name cannot be published by court order, was involved in the violent episode last Sunday at around 2pm when the latter turned up in Ta’ Xbiex where the man runs a business.
A verbal argument allegedly broke out between the couple, which eventually escalated leaving the woman nursing slight injuries.
The man was today arraigned under arrest and charged with slightly injuring his wife and breaching the peace.
Before duty Magistrate Neville Camilleri, the wrongdoer sat in the dock while his wife took the witness stand to explain that she no longer wished to press charges against her errant husband.
Upon being directly questioned by the court, the woman explained that she lived under the same roof as her husband and, in spite of his aggressive behaviour, was willing to take him back so as to reunite the family.
The long-suffering woman declared that she intended to withdraw her complaint so long as her husband bound himself to undergo treatment so as to learn how to control his short temper.
Inspector Jonathan Ransley explained that this had not been the first incident involving the man and he clearly needed help.
In similar vein, lawyer Marion Camilleri suggested that the accused ought to be followed by a probation officer who could suggest the best treatment possible, including anger management and family therapy.
Such treatment would not only target the accused’s problems but would stand to benefit all parties, thereby guaranteeing peace of mind to all, Dr Camilleri argued.
Upon the accused’s own admission, after hearing all evidence and upon a suggestion by both the prosecution as well as the defence, the court declared the man guilty and placed him under a three-year probation order, encompassing the man’s treatment as one of the conditions.
“Should you breach any one of these conditions, you will be brought back before this court,” was the court’s final word of warning.
Inspector Jonathan Ransley prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.