Żabbar man on electronic monitoring after Senglea assault caught on video
A 22-year-old man from Żabbar was granted bail with electronic monitoring after allegedly assaulting his partner in Senglea. He denied all charges in court.
Żabbar man bailed with tag after partner assault filmed by neighbour
A Maltese court has placed a 22-year-old man from Żabbar under electronic monitoring following allegations that he assaulted his partner in Senglea in the early hours of November 6, 2026, Times of Malta reports.
The alleged assault took place at around 5:40am. A neighbour living near the couple sent video footage of the incident to the Domestic Violence Unit, prompting police to open an investigation.
Inspector Colin Sheldon told the court he viewed the footage and subsequently informed his superiors of his intention to seek an arrest warrant. Officers searched for the man on several occasions without success. The accused eventually came forward himself on Tuesday after learning police were looking for him, contacting Inspector Stephen Gulia directly and presenting himself for arrest.
Approximately 15 minutes after being taken into custody, the man attempted to harm himself. An ambulance transported him to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was examined by both a doctor and a psychiatrist before being released. He appeared in court the following Wednesday morning and denied all charges.
The footage, as described by Inspector Sheldon in court, shows the alleged victim on a balcony stroking a dog. The accused then appears to approach her, attempt to lift her to her feet, bring her inside, and throw her onto a bed before striking her with a cushion.
During cross-examination, the defence asked the prosecution whether the alleged victim had not filed a report against the accused, whether she was herself under arrest for breaching bail conditions, and whether she had a serious drug problem. Inspector Sheldon confirmed all three points.
The defence also put it to the inspector that, shortly before the incident shown in the footage, the woman had thrown two objects at the accused. Sheldon confirmed this but noted that neither object had struck him. He also confirmed that the accused could be heard on the footage saying, "How can I carry on like this with you?", a remark the defence characterised as a reference to the woman's drug problem.
Requesting bail, the defence argued the accused deserved another chance. His lawyer explained that the man had spent several months in prison and had been attempting to rebuild his life, and that he feared his relationship with the woman would draw him back into past difficulties. The lawyer said this was the reason for his distress while in police custody.
Magistrate Franco Agius granted bail subject to electronic monitoring, with a condition barring the accused from approaching the alleged victim. The magistrate also ordered the man to report to a police station three times a week and to observe a curfew. He was further required to deposit €200 and provide a personal guarantee of €10,000.
The court additionally issued a five-year protection order in favour of the alleged victim.
Inspector Colin Sheldon led the prosecution. Lawyers Nicholas Mifsud and Nicole Falzon represented the accused.
Source: Times of Malta