Court says woman who hit former partner in face with frying pan did so in self-defence

A court declared yesterday that a woman who hit her former partner in the face with a frying pan was acting in selfdefence.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit heard how the woman was accused of causing grievous injury to her partner and threatening him on 10 October 2013. The court noted that there were two versions given, one by the accused and another by the injured party.

The injured party testified that he was in a relationship with the accused, yet suspected that she had relations with other men. An argument broke out and the accused, he said, grabbed a pan from the kitchen and hit him in the face with it. The accused, on the other hand, testified that their relationship had ended, but when she saw that he did not have a home or anywhere to sleep, she agreed that he could sleep on the sofa.

The couple have a child together.

She said that during the argument, her former partner began insulting her when she was already in bed, and that he jumped on the bed and began hitting her all over her body.

She told the court that he proceeded to pull her out of bed and dragged her by her hair, leading her downstairs. It was here, she said, that she grabbed the pan from the kitchen and hit him with it.

The court noted that from the two versions given, and the presented evidence, the accused’s version of events was the more credible version.

“The court is convinced that the argument escalated as the former partner suspected that she was seeing other men, and through anger and jealousy jumped on her and began beating her.” The court also referred to images showing bruising on the accused’s body.

“It is natural for the accused to want to defend herself, and at that moment she grabbed the first thing she could grab, hitting the accused on the head,” the court said.

“This is a classic case of legitimate self-defence.” The court also noted that there was no proof that she threatened her former partner.

The accused was found not guilty of all charges.