A man held over the stabbing of a woman in Marsa on Wednesday morning was on bail pending proceedings in which he was charged with her attempted murder in 2012, the Times of Malta has learnt.

The suspect was charged in September 2012 with trying to kill the same woman, when the victim, at the time a part-time nurse working for the MMDNA, was repeatedly stabbed in her car at Ta’ Farsina, Qormi.

The victim is Jacqueline Dipasquale, a 50-year-old separated mother of two from Swieqi.

Sources close to the investigations said the latest incident happened in Trejqet Isouard, Marsa, after the two got into an argument that quickly escalated.

After 2012 stabbing, he spent 14 hours on the run and five hours threatening to jump from a roof

The woman was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital suffering from cuts and burns caused by acid. She appears to have been repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver before she was doused in acid, particularly over her face. Her condition was reported to be “serious but stable”.

The police are holding Noel Calleja, 38, from Santa Venera, for questioning, the sources said.

After the 2012 stabbing, Mr Calleja spent 14 hours on the run and five hours threatening to jump from a flagpole on a roof in a private residence not far from where the stabbing had occurred. The drama ended when Inquiring Magistrate Ian Farrugia intervened and spoke to the suspect, reportedly telling him he would be taken to a hospital and helped with his problems.

Ms Dipasquale had her own brushes with the law. In 2015, she was jailed for 18 months after she was found guilty of smuggling drugs into jail in 2009 when she worked as the prison nurse.

She told the police she could not recall how many times she had smuggled drugs into prison but had been doing it for about three months, handling a consignment every fortnight.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke is leading an inquiry into the Marsa case.