Breaches bail after 24 hours, sent to Mount Carmel for treatment

Dione Xuereb, 51, of Swieqi was remanded in custody and placed under psychiatric treatment at Mount Carmel Hospital for the next two months, after he was charged with breaching bail conditions imposed by a court last Sunday.

Xuereb, who was charged last Sunday with threatening to kill his former partner, and for possessing a pistol with a silencer, allegedly returned to threaten his former partner and daughter by phoning them, when he was warned not to approach them in any manner.

Sobbing in court, Xuereb turned many times to his weeping daughter and former partner, as lawyer Roberto Montalto urged the court to consider his client's state of mind.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella upheld Montalto's request for his client to be placed under an interim treatment order, and to be kept at Mount Carmel Hospital for the next two months.

The Court ordered that the psychiatrist appointed to evaluate Xuereb reports his preliminary findings at the earliest opportunity.

Xuereb and his former partner have long-standing issues between them, and matters degenerated on Saturday when the accused allegedly burst into his partner's home, smashing two doors, and threatening the woman that he would shoot and kill her.

When arrested, police elevated an unlicensed pistol and a silencer from his home, and charged him on Sunday with the threats and the illegal possession of a weapon.

He was granted bail on condition that he does not approach the witnesses, breaching it a mere 24 hours after.

Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted, while lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared parte civile for the man's partner and daughter.