A father-of-12 was granted bail on Thursday after pleading not guilty to slightly injuring his wife in the course of one of the couple’s reportedly frequent quarrels.

The man, 46, whose identity is not to be revealed in the interests of his children, pleaded not guilty to the aggression as well as to having caused his wife to fear violence during the heated argument which allegedly took place in a Cospicua residence that was not the couple’s matrimonial home.

“I love my family,” the man blurted out at the start of the hearing, interspersed with frequent questions and remarks. His primary concern appeared to be his 4-and-a half-year-old daughter whom he claimed to have nurtured from birth.

“Her mother just gave birth to her. I brought her up, I take her to school every day and see to all her needs while her mother goes to work,” the father explained to the court, presided over by Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.

When briefing the court about the circumstances of the arrest, prosecuting Inspector Eman Hayman explained how the police, answering a call for help found the woman with a blooded face.

Luckily however the alleged victim had only suffered slight injuries, the court was told.

“I wish to make up. I love her. We’ve been together for 28 years,” the man replied when asked by the court whether he wished to make amends.

Husband and wife had supplied conflicting versions of what happened, Inspector Hayman went on, saying that the woman had claimed to have been pushed down the stairs, whereas the husband had insisted that he had accidentally hit his wife while gesticulating during the argument.

After hearing submissions on bail, the court upheld the request, making it very clear that the man was to strictly abide by the terms of a Protection Order, which meant that he was to steer clear of his wife and take up residence elsewhere.

“What about my pets?” the man once again queried, showing reluctance in leaving his “dog, parrots and greenfinches” behind.

The court explained that the accused was to sign the bail book three times a week, abide by a curfew between 11pm and 7am and bind himself under a personal guarantee of €8,000. Moreover, he was to observe a Protection Order which, if breached, could land him with a maximum fine of €7,000 and/or a jail term.

Lawyer Graziella Tanti was legal aid counsel.

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