An argument between an estranged couple on Thursday morning caused the woman to suffer a fractured arm while the man ended up in court on Friday under arrest, regaining his freedom under the strict terms of a bail decree.

Charged with willfully and grievously injuring his estranged spouse, threatening her and breaching the peace, the 65-year-old Żebbuġ pensioner pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Prosecuting Inspector Alfredo Mangion explained how Thursday’s incident had erupted when the former couple, currently de facto separated, came across each other at a garage annexed to the matrimonial home where the woman still resided.

The man reportedly visited the place regularly since he used the garage as a store for wares, related to his part-time occupation.

However, Thursday’s encounter between the two sparked off an argument which escalated to the point that the woman ended up suffering grievous injuries, while her alleged aggressor ended up in police custody.

Defence counsel Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri submitted a request for bail, arguing that the couple had been living apart for the past 12 years and there had never been any prior incidents.

This request was objected to by the prosecution on account of the fact that since the couple were not legally separated, the accused had access rights to the matrimonial home, making future encounters with the alleged victim possible.

However, the defence countered that the man needed to retain access to the garage to get on with his part-time work as a green grocer.

In the light of these submissions, the court, presided over by magistrate Gabriella Vella, upheld the request, granting bail but imposing strict hours of access to the garage by the accused in such manner as to avoid meetings with his wife, who was present in the courtroom throughout the arraignment.

The court imposed a deposit of €500, a personal guarantee of €10,000 and an order to sign the bail book on a daily basis.