A pensioner has escaped punishment for slightly injuring his wife in a domestic dispute after the woman dropped the charges against him.
The 61 year-old was accused of slightly injuring his wife, breaching the peace and insulting or threatening the woman. Senior Inspector Trevor Micallef, prosecuting, also asked the court to provide for the safety of the victim.
Defence lawyer Franco Debono entered a not guilty plea on the accused's behalf.
But the case stalled on the starting grid when the woman's lawyers informed magistrate Monica Vella that the woman was withdrawing her complaint against her husband as she had forgiven him. The charges could only be prosecuted on the complaint of the injured party and so the court had no option but to order that the proceedings end there.
The prosecution consequently informed the court that it had no evidence to produce as the woman was not going to testify. The defence declared that the accused was prepared to submit to any orders of the court.
"Your wife is saying that she doesn't want proceedings to continue," said Magistrate Vella. "Today the court is giving you a chance, but know that your wife will not come here again with a similar case and obtain the same outcome," warned the court.
Lawyers Alfred Abela and Marie Elise Agius appeared as parte civile for the victim, whilst lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel.
The court ordered a ban on the publication of the names of the parties.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2DC4t9h
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