Six years jail for man who pleaded guilty to attempted murder of estranged wife

A 41-year-old man from Zurrieq has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempting to murder his estranged wife by stabbing her in the stomach and chest out of jealousy.

The woman had to undergo life-saving surgery after she was rushed to hospital due to the stab wounds to her abdomen and chest.

Kevin Micallef pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him in order to avoid a trial by jury. The stabbing, through the use of a pen-knife, took place in May 2012.

Micallef and the victim had a daughter together, however the marriage broke down and the couple then filed for separation proceedings. Throughout the separation proceedings and the years after, the woman had befriended another man, to Micallef’s dismay.

Jealousy led to him to follow his estranged wife, to the point where he would borrow a friend’s car to track her movements. The court heard how Micallef stored a penknife with the intention of using it to stab his wife.

All this culminated on 4 May 2012, when Micallef visited the bar in Birkirkara which belongs to the victim’s male friend. He waited outside the bar in a car, and observed his wife leaving at around 10.30pm, accompanied by the male friend. She even informed the police of how she had noticed that a car was following her.

In an attempt to ascertain what was going on, the woman exited the vehicle, which is when Micallef exited from his vehicle and repeatedly stabbed his estranged wife in the abdomen and chest. He caused her serious internal injuries and left her in critical condition.

Micallef proceeded to turn the penknife on himself, and stabbed himself repeatedly in the abdomen. He was also taken to hospital and treated for his injuries.

In total, Micallef pleaded to seven charges included in the bill of indictment: attempted murder, harassment, intimidation, carrying a knife without a licence and slightly injuring another two men in the struggle.

Judge Antonio Mizzi, presiding over the Criminal Court, having seen the guilty plea, jailed Micallef for 6 years and fined him €116.47.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Albert Zerafa appeared for Micallef, whilst lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia appeared in parte civile for the victim.