Magistrate Miriam Hayman’s court hall was the scene of a long-winded legal wrangle yesterday in the case of a man who stands accused of threatening to kill his former partner, the mother of his child.

James Demanuele, 33, from Tarxien, pleaded not guilty to harassing and threatening to kill Helen Maria Felice on 8 May. He was also accused of intimidating Ms Felice with threats of violence, of the misuse of a telecommunications device, of breaching the terms of his house arrest and breaching the terms of a personal guarantee that had previously bound him from harassing the same victim. He was also accused of relapsing.

The issue of bail was raised by defence lawyer Joe Brincat, who contested that the hearing had to be completed in one session. Magistrate Hayman said she could not decide on just the one charge of breaching bail conditions (in reference to the prosecution’s wish for the accused to be kept in custody) and postpone the other charges to a later date.

“The prosecution has the right to request a separation of judicial proceedings against two or more accused, but cannot do the same in reference to charges once they are filed,” said Dr Brincat. The court, making the point that the accused had been charged “with urgency’”, concurred with Dr Brincat’s theory and said that the prosecution should have charged him for breaching bail conditions separately. As a result, magistrate Hayman told the prosecution to gather all the necessary evidence. The prosecution informed the court that all the necessary witnesses would testify in that same session, but that a copy of Demanuele’s criminal record would need to be procured from the Attorney General’s office.

The prosecution then made its submissions on the issue of bail being granted. Police inspector Chris Pullicino said that the accused had a history of violence and threats against his former partner, and was facing separate charges for a similar incident some weeks ago.

He said that the accused was under house arrest and had left his abode to visit his daughter. Explaining further, the inspector said that the accused had told her carers that he did not want his daughter to go there anymore. When it was pointed out to him that his former partner had custody of the child, he retorted: “Today yes, but things will change tomorrow”. One of the child’s carers testified that she had spoken to the accused and confirmed what Mr Pullicino said.

Ms Felice also testified that on the day in question, she received dozens of phone calls from an unknown number. She eventually answered and received death threats, adding that she recognised the voice of the accused.

She had gone to report the incident at the local police station.

The court ordered that the accused be remanded in custody and that proceedings continue next week.