A man’s niggling suspicion that his partner was cheating upon him has landed him behind bars, after his request for bail was refused.  

Noel Debono, a 38-year old from Qormi, stands accused of kicking up a scene at his partner's Birżebbuġa home on Wednesday night and then pelting the man he believed was her lover with stones in Għargħur.

He was charged with harassing his partner, causing her slight injuries, threatening the woman and her son, threatening the alleged lover and intentionally damaging two vehicles. 

The man was further charged with having been in possession of a knife or some similar instrument without the necessary police licence.

Mr Debono pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested bail, with his lawyer arguing that a man could not be deprived of his personal freedom on the basis of slight injuries and mere allegations still to be proved.

However, the prosecution countered that civilian witnesses were still to testify and the risk of evidence being tampered with was a real one in the light of the circumstances of the case.

Duty magistrate Francesco Depasquale upheld the prosecution’s arguments and remanded the man in custody, denying his bail request. 

Senior Inspector Johann Fenech and Inspector Roderick Attard prosecuted.
Lawyer Frank Cassar was defence counsel.