A woman and her step-daughter were yesterday charged with seriously injuring another woman when they allegedly hit her in the face with a ceramic pot.

The names of both the accused, who are from Qormi, cannot be published by court order, because the daughter is still a minor.

The woman, 48, and the minor were charged with seriously injuring the woman at around 8.45am on 21 May 2005 in Floriana. The injured woman is a neighbour of the girl’s natural mother and has already had problems with the family in the past, the court heard.

Before magistrate Antonio Vella, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

Police Inspector Pierre Micallef Grimaud prosecuted while Dr Roberto Montalto and Dr Jose Herrera appeared for the accused.