A 21-year-old single mother of two, one of whom is only a few months old, was charged yesterday with trying to kill her father when she allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen on Monday morning.

Analise Galea, from Birkirkara, was charged in front of magistrate Doreen Clarke with attempting to kill her 55-year-old father at around 3am in the kitchen of her father’s house. The defence is stating that she was acting in self-defence after the alleged victim, Paul Galea, allegedly grabbed her round the neck.

Ms Galea, the mother of an eight-month-old baby and a three-year-old, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her.

Mr Galea was seriously injured and for some time was in a critical condition because the implement used in the stabbing penetrated his liver.

Defence lawyer Joe Brincat requested the court to grant his client bail on a number of grounds, primarily that his client was acting in self-defence. He explained that as soon as his client arrived home, her father, who the defence claims was under the influence of alcohol, had started shouting at her and even grabbed her around the neck.

Dr Brincat said Mr Galea had started accusing his daughter of staying out late when in actual fact she had been at work in order to earn money to raise her children. He said that she worked in a shop and that evening had been given a lift home by the owner’s girlfriend. He said that, despite Ms Galea telling him that she had been at work, her father did not believe her and became increasingly violent.

Dr Brincat asked Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia if his client had told him that her father had assaulted her. Inspector Farrugia replied in the affirmative, adding that as soon as she had made this claim, he had called a court expert to examine her. In fact, he continued, Dr Mario Scerri had found injuries on her neck that he associated with finger marks.

The defence lawyer said another reason why his client should be granted bail was because she had two young children, who she had to look after. He said these children need their mother.

Dr Brincat said that, after the incident, it was his client’s sister who had called her to tell her that the police were looking for her. He said his client went to the police station and told the police all she knew about the incident.

Inspector Farrugia said that while he agreed with and understood the defence’s arguments, the prosecution was opposing the request for bail in order to conserve its evidence.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke rejected the request for bail and Ms Galea was remanded in custody and transferred to the Corradino Correctional Facility.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted and Dr Joe Brincat appeared for Ms Galea.