A man was yesterday jailed for one year suspended for a year and placed on probation for one year after he was found guilty of trying to seriously injure his son when he attacked him with a knife.

Paul Micallef, 52, from Birkirkara, was found guilty of assaulting his son Decklyn with a knife at the family home in Birkirkara on 31 October 2004 at 5am. He was also found guilty of slightly injuring his son, threatening and offending his wife and four children, swearing in public, breaching the peace, being drunk in public and possessing a sharp and pointed instrument without a licence.

The court heard how the incident took place during a family argument when Micallef returned home drunk early that morning. An argument ensured and Micallef hit Decklyn with a knife.

Handing down her judgement, Magistrate Myriam Hayman commented that Micallef has an alcohol problem, although he never admitted it in court. She said that he has tried to kick the habit and has also attended several alcohol rehabilitation programmes.

She said that the improvement the accused has registered over time should be taken into consideration. She thus jailed him for one year suspended for another year and placed him on probation for a year.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.