Mother cleared of attempted murder of violent former partner
A mother whose police repeated reports against her former violent partner were ignored has been cleared of attempted murder, after a court ruled that she stabbed him in self-defence.
The violent incident happened inside her home over three years ago when her former abusive partner forced his way into her home and tried to rape her, while her son slept in his bed.
When she managed to break free and ran to the kitchen, he chased her, pinned her against a cupboard, beat her and punched her face.
That was when she grabbed a kitchen knife.
When delivering judgment, the court, presided over by Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, observed that the accused did not deny having armed herself with a knife when the incident took place.
The police only got to know about the incident after both the alleged victim and the accused resorted to the health centre for medical treatment.
The landlord who turned up at the accused’s apartment to check out any damages to his property shortly after the commotion did not seem to have filed a police report.
The accused had filed several reports about the way she was being harassed by her former partner, but no action appeared to have been taken,...