Man accused of beating partner tells her to lie about injuries

A 23-year-old man pleaded not guilty to grievously injuring his partner after beating her up mercilessly despite a restraining order in place.

The incident began on August 12, police inspector Audrey Micallef told the court. Police had received a 112 call, and relatives had reported the alleged victim as missing, as they suspected her ex-partner was involved.

When police tracked her down, she told them that she and her ex exchanged messages the day before, despite there was a restraining order in place. They had agreed to meet on August 12 outside her shop.

The accused was arraigned in April on domestic violence charges and handed a probation order and restraining order.

'You won't go home alive'

On the day, the woman arrived ten minutes late, and a verbal argument began. Her ex allegedly told her he was "involved in a car accident because of her".

He ordered her into the car, and the woman allegedly tried to calm him down.

They went to a bar in Mosta, which was closed, and he allegedly punched her in the forehead. 

Then they went to a Naxxar bar and he ordered her to go to the restroom because her forehead was swollen. He allegedly told her that he would bring her some ice, which he did, but resumed hitting her. 

Police said he insisted on knowing who she met and had relationships with during the two months they were not together. 

After that, they went to a bar in Marsaskala. Again, he insisted on knowing who she had seen and with whom she had sex with, and threatened her that he would continue to beat her up if she did not speak up.

A barman tried to stop him and calm him down, to which the man allegedly replied, “She’s a whore”.

He then took his phone and her phone and started hitting her on the head. She fell on the ground, and he allegedly kicked her in her back and abdomen.

The man allegedly pushed her through the sliding door before he got her by the head and banged her against a parked vehicle outside. The man allegedly told her that “You won’t go home alive”.

They then went to his home in Żabbar, but she did not have her mobile phone. She was scared to take it back from the accused.

Accused told her to lie about her injuries

On August 12, she managed to take her phone and make a call through SOS. The police tried calling her back. The man drove her to Birżebbuġa and told her that if she is asked anything about the injuries, she should say she was involved in a fight with a woman.

He then took her to Mosta and warned her not to “betray him like she did last time”, referring to the April incident. At the time of the incident, the man allegedly told her to say she was involved in a car accident. 

On Thursday, the court heard how her injuries were certified as grievous injuries.She also scored high on the risk assessment.

In court, the man was accused of grievously injuring the woman, breaching a probation order and a restraining order.

He was also accused of assaulting, threatening and insulting the woman.

The man pleaded not guilty.

'He did not learn anything from his probation order'

Defence lawyer Franco Debono requested bail.

Prosecutor Jurgen Dalli strongly objected to the request, citing fears he would tamper with evidence, interfere with the witness and that he would not abide by court orders.

Dalli highlighted that there was a worrying history between the pair, and the woman has not yet testified. The man allegedly breached both a restraining order and a probation order.

He underlined that in April, he was already in the dock over domestic violence against the same person.

“He did not learn anything from his probation order,” Dalli said.

Debono rebutted, saying that for four months the probation officer did not get in touch with him. Moreover, the woman had reached out to him, and the man initially refused to resume their relationship, Debono said, adding that they had travelled together with the woman’s daughter during the period when the restraining order was in place.

The court denied the man bail.

It also issued a protection order in favour of the woman on the request of the prosecution.

Magistrate Ann Marie Thake presided.AG lawyers Jurgen Dalli and Miguel Taliana prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Audrey Micallef. Lawyers Franco Debono, Adreana Zammit and Anthea Bonnici Zammit appeared for the accused.