A 23-year-old from Senglea has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence after admitting to assaulting and injuring his pregnant former partner.

The accused cannot be named due to a court ban. 

Inspector Sherona Buhagiar told the court that the victim filed a report with the Domestic Violence Unit on Sunday concerning the behaviour of her former partner. The woman reported a number of incidents which took place over the course of the past year, during which the accused assaulted her and caused her slight injuries.

She presented gave police two medical certificates documenting slight injuries she had suffered, as well as photographs showing injuries sustained during other incidents.

An arrest warrant was subsequently issued and the man was arrested on Monday after presenting himself voluntarily to the police.
During his audiovisual statement, the accused exercised his right to silence.

He was charged with causing his former partner to fear that violence would be used against her, causing her slight injuries and making threats against her.

The man admitted to the charges. The court gave him time to reconsider his admission, after which he confirmed his guilty plea.

During the proceedings, a treatment order was also requested in view of the man's anger issues. 

The court sentenced the man to two years in prison, suspended for four years and issued a three-year treatment order.

Inspector Sherona Buhagiar prosecuted. Defence lawyers Rene Darmanin, Alfred Abela and Ishmael Vella appeared for the man. Magistrate Antoine Agius Bonnici presided over the arraignment.