Woman accused of trying to run over partner with his car

Mar 15 2022

A mother of a one-year-old baby was charged with attempted murder and domestic violence charges after allegedly attempting to run over her partner with his own Mercedes.

The incident happened in Żabbar, with the 26-year-old Żebbuġ housewife being arraigned under arrest before Magistrate Doreen Clarke this afternoon.

She was accused of attempted murder, slightly injuring her partner, uttering threats which exceeded the limits of provocation, damaging a parked car belonging to a third party and driving a vehicle in which children were seated without a seatbelt.

The court was informed by Lawyer Mark Attard Montalto, who appeared parte civile, that his client was renouncing his right to criminal action wherever this was possible. He also did not wish to testify.

The prosecutor said that the incident happened just last Sunday and thus, the fear that another altercation could take place at such an early stage is very real.

However, bail was granted to the accused but the magistrate made it clear to the woman that until a contrary court order was given, she was not to speak to her partner and vice versa.

The woman was ordered to sign a bail book once a week, and bail was secured by a €5,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €15,000. A ban was imposed on the publication of the names of the parties in the interests of the children.

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55-year-old jailed for sexual acts with 7-year-old niece

Mar 15 2022

A 55-year-old man from Valletta was sentenced to nine years in prison after he admitted to exposing his cousin’s 7-year-old daughter to pornography and sexual activities with the child.

The man pleaded to guilty to charges of defilement of a minor, violent indecent assault as well as the possession and circulation of pornography in his Valletta home.

The offences occurred back in May 2019 when the girl, who is 10 now, was entrusted into his care. The man’s name was ordered to be inscribed on the sex offender’s register by Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit.

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‘I meet people everyday’ says Robert Abela about Portelli event

Mar 15 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela commented about his encounter with developer Joseph Portelli, playing down his meeting by saying that he meets regularly with people from all walks of life.

‘Everyday I meet people from commercial entities, as I meet people from all walks of life. The encounter with Portelli, occurred publicly, when I met commercial entities in Gozo. I categorically deny receiving any donations from him and that the permit in question was ever mentioned’ said Abela.

Abela was guest of honour at the Portelli dinner which was attended by several Gozitan developers. The comments made by the Prime Minister follow a vote of approval by the Planning Authority for an application by Portelli to build a block of 125 apartments 300 meters away from the Sannat cliffs in Gozo.

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Under-25s could be banned from buying cigarettes in UK

Mar 15 2022

Anyone under the age of 25 could be permanently banned from purchasing cigarettes in the UK in a bid to become a smoke free nation.

Health secretary Sajid Javid commissioned the upcoming report, with Javed Khan OBE set to outline feedback next month, Daily Mail revealed. The former CEO of children’s charity Barnardo’s, Khan is supporting the UK’s plan to be smoke free by 2030.

There are an estimated 6 million smokers in England, with tobacco still being the single largest cause of preventable death. 64,000 people died from smoking n 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Khan considered measures such as the ones implemented in New Zealand, in which anyone born after 2008 won’t be able to buy tobacco products. However, Khan argued in favour of raising the age to 19, 20 or even 25.

He went on to compare the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that social media influencers and similar manoeuvres urged people to get vaccinated in mass.

Tweeting out, Khan said that he wants to hear views and ‘what we can do to support current smokers to quit, and to stop people taking up smoking. How do we stop people, especially children and young people, from starting smoking in the first place?’

Do you think such a measure should be implemented in Malta?

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