Woman admits to threatening wardens with a baseball bat

A woman from Zabbar has pleaded guilty to threatening two local wardens with a baseball bat.

The 37 year-old hairdresser is understood to have been stopped by the two wardens who had noticed that her children were not wearing a seatbelt. The woman is accused of threatening them with the wooden bat, insulting the wardens , disobeying a legitimate order and breaching the peace.

The woman, who is alleged to suffer from a mental illness, was distressed and agitated before the sitting.

Both parties approached the bench and conferred with the magistrate for several minutes before a guilty plea was entered on her behalf.

The defence asked that a pre-sentencing report be drawn up and a probation officer also be appointed. The prosecution did not object to the request.

The court, after discussing the case out of earshot of the public in the courtroom, said there were factors that appeared to be relevant in connection to the accused and upheld the request.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia ordered that a pre-sentencing inquiry report be compiled.

The court admonished the woman, who acknowledged that what she had done was wrong and said she was “deeply sorry.”

She was released on bail until the report was submitted, being ordered to sign a bail book once a week and provide a personal guarantee of €2000. The court forbade her from approaching the wardens, even through an intermediary.

Inspector Melvyn Camilleri prosecuted. Lawyers Jason Azzopardi and Kris Busietta were defence counsel.