Man accused of killing ex-partner's dog and causing fear of violence
The victim said her ex-partner spent the afternoon drinking
A 31-year-old man pleaded not guilty to causing fear to his ex-partner that violence would be used against her and to killing her dog.
The security guard, a Macedonian national living in Marsascala, was also accused of threatening and insulting her, of causing her dog to suffer and breaching the Animal Welfare Act.
Police inspector Colin Sheldon explained that the Domestic Violence Unit were informed of the case by the Marsascala Police, who accompanied the woman to the Domestic Violence Hub in Santa Luċija on March 1.
The woman told the police that in the afternoon, she argued with her partner, who had been drinking, and wanted cuddles. The man left the apartment only to return later that evening smelling of alcohol.
The woman allegedly told him something about his drinking and went to bed. The accused told her to remove the dog from the bed, and sensing the man's aggression, the dog went to its own bed.
The accused allegedly grabbed the dog and slammed it on the floor twice, killing it.
The woman sought assistance through 112. The police who arrived at the scene saw the dog in the apartment, and she was taken away. When she returned later to the apartment to collect some belongings in the company of police officers, the man was at the apartment, but the dog was not there.
The woman scored 20 on the risk assessment. The accused was arrested.
In his interrogation, the man explained what he did to the dog, whose lifeless body was found in a Marsascala field.
Checks with Animal Welfare showed the dog was registered to someone else, but the woman had explained that the dog was found some two years ago, and she had kept it.
After pleading not guilty, defence lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar noted that no request for bail will be made at this stage, given that there was no alternative address as yet.
The man was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Ingrid Bianco presided. Police inspectors Colin Sheldon and Chantelle Mifsud prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Mark Mifsud Cutajar appeared for the accused.