A man who was accused of smashing the door of the family home during an argument with his mother, was let off the hook by a court on Thursday after the woman refused to testify against him.

The incident took place in April and necessitated police intervention.

The 44-year-old pleaded not guilty to using violence, moral or psychological, threatening and assaulting his mother, causing her to fear violence and damaging her property.

He was also been charged with cannabis possession.

The mother later told the court that she had forgiven her son and would not to testify against him.

The court said that since there was no other witnesses, the case was marked by a lack of evidence which could in any way support the charges against the accused.

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud cleared the man of all charges save for the possession of cannabis to which the man admitted and was fined €75.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel.