Six-year-old family feud lands man in custody

A 32-year-old man who resides in Qormi was yesterday denied bail after being charged with making threats.

The man, whose name cannot be made public by order of the court, has a long history of crimes related to a family feud between him and another family. The court heard how the man has three children with the daughter of the other family. Police Inspector Roderick Agius explained that the problems between the two families have been ongoing for years.

“I am aware of the problems between the two families and most of the criminal history of the accused is related to the same issue,” Agius explained.

It appears that on 17 December the man went to the Żebbuġ police station and threatened to kill the father of the other family who, he said, had provoked him. The man was promptly arrested and he was later charged with making threats and breaching the peace.

Defence lawyer Noel Bianco said that the issue arose after the father of the former partner provoked him.

The prosecution argued that there were a lot of witnesses who still need to testify and that the accused could not be trusted. “He is not a bad person. But until this issue between the families is resolved, we will keep facing these problems. We get reports every weekend. I have known these families for six and a half years and I am pretty sure that there will be other issues.”

Noel Bianco said that the man lives with his parents, who were present in the hall.

If need be, the accused could be denied access to his children until the evidence is heard. The accused does not have a fixed job, Magistrate Josette Demicoli heard.

The man pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court ordered the name of the accused to be withheld. Because of the lack of trustworthiness of the accused, the court denied his request for bail.

As the man left the hall his parents took offence at the way his former partner looked at him. There was some commotion outside the courtroom as the accused was handcuffed and led away.