A 31-year-old man has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to a string of charges over alleged sexual and physical violence against his partner.

The man was arraigned and accused of offences including non-consensual penetration, committing a non-consensual act of a sexual nature, grievous bodily harm, sexual harassment, unlawful arrest or detention, causing fear of violence, and coercive behaviour.

He was also charged in connection with a separate alleged incident in July, during which he is accused of slightly injuring the woman.

The accused, who lives in Tarxien and is studying to become a taxi driver, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court heard that the woman filed a police report on 24 August, reporting several alleged incidents involving her partner.

The string of alleged attacks on the victim

One of the incidents allegedly took place on 20 August, after the couple had spent several hours together drinking in bed.

According to the victim, an argument broke out, during which the man allegedly began tearing up the woman's clothes before fingering her. The woman alleged that she shouted that she was in pain, but he continued nonetheless.

She further alleged that the man hit her in the face, pulled her hair, and placed a pillow over her mouth. He is also alleged to have attempted to force pieces of her torn clothing into her mouth while threatening her.

The woman also reported another alleged incident on 23 August, during which the accused allegedly punched her in the face several times.

A separate incident also allegedly occurred on 8 July, when an argument between the couple escalated, and the man allegedly bit the woman, leaving marks on her body.

The accused is charged with causing slight bodily harm in connection with that incident.

The prosecution is also accusing the man of unlawfully arresting, holding, or detaining the woman against her will, as well as engaging in behaviour that caused her to fear violence, and using physical, moral, or psychological violence or coercion against her.

Bail rejected over fear of witness tampering

The defence requested bail, but the prosecution strongly objected, citing the gravity of the alleged offences and fears that the accused could tamper with witnesses.

The prosecution told the court that, following the man's arrest, the woman received around 50 phone calls allegedly from him. The accused's mother was also alleged to have called the woman four times, after which the woman blocked the accused.

The defence challenged that account, pointing out that the alleged calls were made after the man's arrest, when his phone should have already been taken from him by police.

It also argued that the calls appeared to come from a 'No Caller ID' number, meaning their source could not be established with certainty.

The defence therefore argued that it was merely being assumed that the calls had been made by the accused.

The court ultimately rejected the request for bail on the grounds that there remained a fear of witness tampering, particularly since the woman has yet to testify.

A protection order was also issued in favour of the woman.

Inspector Sherona Buhagiar prosecuted together with AG lawyers Jurgen Dalli and Celine Fenech.

Lawyer Robert Piscopo appeared for the victim.

Defence lawyer Ryan Ellul represented the accused.

Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided over the sitting.