A long-simmering conflict between an estranged couple boiled over on Tuesday morning, landing both in court in separate arraignments on Wednesday.

Inspector Roderick Attard told the court that on Tuesday morning he received a report about a man claiming to have been assaulted by his ex, who had turned up at his Marsaxlokk home, damaging his mobile phone and striking him with a bread knife.

When the woman was questioned, she claimed to have been the victim of an abusive relationship and had ended the relationship in July.   

Her ex, father of their two children, had demanded the return of a mobile phone he had given her. He had also been stalking and harassing her with computer and phone messages, she claimed. 

The inspector said the woman had turned up at her ex’s home, produced the phone and tried to destroy it, hammering it with a protein shake and a kitchen knife before finally slipping it into her pocket.

The man was accused of unauthorised use of his ex’s computer password, harassment and threats by means of electronic messages. He was further charged with having refused to obey police orders.

The 37-year old unemployed man from Marsaxlokk pleaded not guilty. Bail was denied. 

His former partner, a 30-year old factory employee from Kalkara, pleaded not guilty to having stolen the mobile phone, caused voluntary damage to third party property and with having slightly injured her ex with a knife.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud heard evidence from her parents about how she used to be harassed by her ex, who was described as “the jealous type” who called her at her workplace and suspected that she was seeing someone else.

In view of the circumstances of the case, which appeared to indicate a pattern of domestic abuse allegedly suffered by the woman and also in the best interests of the children, the court upheld her request for bail, against a deposit of €200, and a personal guarantee of €2,000.

The court issued a ban on the publication of all names.

Inspector Roderick Attard prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Ellis was legal aid counsel to the man.

Lawyer Francois Dalli was counsel to the woman.

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