Man pleads not guilty in assault case before proceedings are dropped
The woman wanted to drop charges after she filed a police report on "the spur of the moment"
A 32-year-old man pleaded not guilty to assaulting and threatening his partner, while proceedings were declared extinguished after the woman informed the court that she intended to drop the complaint.
Police inspector Sherona Buhagiar explained that the woman reported her partner, with whom she has a three-year-old child.
The woman claimed her partner had assaulted, insulted and threatened her.
An arrest warrant was requested after she scored 16 on the risk assessment.
When the police went to arrest the man on Monday night, they found the woman at the residence, who asked that the man not be arrested, but the officers proceeded.
After pleading not guilty to the charges, parte civile lawyer Francesca Zarb informed the court that her client wanted to drop the charges.
Taking the witness stand, the woman said she decided to withdraw the criminal complaint, which was filed following an argument between them and on the spur of the moment.
She explained that this argument could have been avoided.
Defence lawyer Yanica Barbara noted that the woman was at the man’s house, and that she requested the police not to arrest him, adding that they were arguing just like anyone else.
The court declared the proceedings extinguished following the woman’s declarations.
Magistrate Ingrid Bianco presided.
Police inspector Sherona Buhagiar prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Yanica Barbara appeared for the accused, while lawyer Francesca Zarb appeared for the parte civile.