A 28-year-old man from Marsascala has been remanded in custody after threatening to stab his mother and sister.

The Latvian national appeared in the dock before magistrate Doreen Clarke this morning, accused of threatening the women in an argument which allegedly erupted over spilled food.

Inspector Oriana Spiteri told the court that this was not the first report of domestic violence which the police had received regarding the man. He had threatened his mother with a pair of scissors in the past, she said.

Defence lawyer Joe Bonnici entered a not guilty plea and explained to the court that the man has psychiatric problems which required medical attention.

Bail was denied in view of the nature of the offences and the fact that the man had nowhere else to live but with the alleged victims, as well as due to his medical problems. The court made a recommendation to the director of prisons that the accused be detained at the forensic ward.