A 20-year-old man was yesterday placed under house arrest after he pleaded not guilty to trying to cause grievous bodily harm to a woman.

Christopher Stone, from Qormi, was accused of attempting to grievously injure Naomi Vella on 8 November at 5.30pm and later in Qormi, with the use of a cutting or pointed instrument, which crime was not completed as a consequence of some accidental cause independent of the will of the accused.

He was also charged with slightly injuring Ms Vella, insulting her as well as breaching a previous suspended sentence.

Magistrate Edwina Grima placed the man under house arrest against a personal guarantee of Lm3,000.

Police Inspector Marisa Camilleri prosecuted while Dr Robert Abela was defence counsel.