Man put behind bars for contacting former partner in breach of court order
Defence argues that he had been trying to patch things up
A man was denied bail on Tuesday after sending numerous messages to his former partner and going near her residence, despite court-imposed restrictions.
The 30-year-old Sicilian, who cannot be named due to a court order to protect the identity of the couple’s five-year-old son, pleaded not guilty.
Inspector Christian Cauchi told the court that the woman filed a report with the Domestic Violence Unit in Santa Luċija on May 18. She said that the accused had sent her several messages breaching a protection order issued back in February.
Cauchi said the messages were not related to arrangements concerning their son, but on the accused’s wish to reunite the family.
In some of the messages he asked her to “forgive me” and “let’s fix this”.
The prosecution said that the man also went to the woman’s residence and asked her to open the door for him. She told him several times to leave and to stop contacting her.
Defence lawyer Conrad Borg Manché requested bail and argued that no threats or violent behaviour had taken place. The accused was not a violent person, he insisted.
The prosecution objected, arguing that a protection order must be respected, regardless of whether any threats had been made. It was also pointed out that the alleged victim still had to testify.
Lennox Vella, appearing for the alleged victim, said the woman felt she had to file a report because the accused was following and stalking her, and she was concerned her former partner would approach her residence once again.
The court heard how, in March, the couple’s son suffered a serious accident, and communication between the former partners had increased out of concern for the child’s well-being. Borg Manché argued that the woman’s actions showed she was not fearful of the accused, pointing out that after the incident she had asked him to collect the child from her residence, rather than from the police station, where exchanges had previously taken place.
The defence also argued that the child had been emotionally affected by the separation and often cried and hoped his parents would reconcile. This was the reason behind the accused’s attempts to re-establish contact.
The court also heard about a separate incident, where the accused allegedly threw a pot of boiling water at the woman, leading to the protection order being issued.
The man was denied bail.
Magistrate Tanya Sammut presided. Inspector Christian Cauchi prosecuted. Lawyer Conrad Borg Manché appeared for the accused. Lawyer Lennox Vella appeared for the woman.