A 40-year-old man from Eritrea today was accused in court of causing injuries to his wife with a head butt.

Solomon Abebe Hilemariam, who works as a careworker and resides in Valletta, was charged with causing serious injuries to his wife and of threatening to use violence against her and their children. The man is also accused of relapsing.

The incident occurred on 11 May at a residence in Triq it-Tramuntana in Valletta. A court, presided by Magistrate Doreen Clarke, heard how the man head-butted his wife and broke her nose.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

Defence lawyer YanikaBugeja noted that the only witness in this case is his wife. The defendant requested bail and argued that should the man be remanded in custody, he would lose his job and he has to take care of his daughter. The defence also argued that the man, who is of protestant religion, can live with his pastor who offered him shelter.

The prosecution, led by Inspector Priscilla Caruana Lee, objected to the request for bail.

After having heard the two parties, the court denied the request for bail in view of the possibility of tampering with evidence. The court ordered the prosecuting officers to bring the parte civile as witness in the next hearing.

 

The request for bail was denied.