Suspended jail term for man who assaulted pregnant ex-partner<\/p>\n
A 23-year-old from Senglea has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after admitting to assaulting and injuring his pregnant former partner.<\/p>\n
The accused cannot be named due to a court ban. <\/p>\n
Inspector Sherona Buhagiar told the court that the victim filed a report with the Domestic Violence Unit on Sunday concerning the behaviour of her former partner. The woman reported a number of incidents which took place over the course of the past year, during which the accused assaulted her and caused her slight injuries.<\/p>\n
She presented gave police two medical certificates documenting slight injuries she had suffered, as well as photographs showing injuries sustained during other incidents.<\/p>\n
An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and the man was arrested on Monday after presenting himself voluntarily to the police.
During his audiovisual statement, the accused exercised his right to silence.<\/p>\n
He was charged with causing his former partner to fear that violence would be used against her, causing her slight injuries and making threats against her.<\/p>\n
The man admitted to the charges. The court gave him time to reconsider his admission, after which he confirmed his guilty plea.<\/p>\n
During the proceedings, a treatment order was also requested in view of the man’s anger issues. <\/p>\n
The court sentenced the man to two years in prison, suspended for four years and issued a three-year treatment order.<\/p>\n
Inspector Sherona Buhagiar prosecuted. Defence lawyers Rene Darmanin, Alfred Abela and Ishmael Vella appeared for the man. Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided over the arraignment.<\/p>\n