Man who allegedly threatened to kill his daughter's mother remanded in custody

A 33-year-old deliveryman who allegedly threatened to “kill" and put the mother of his four-year-old daughter "under soil,” has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to threatening to kill her.

Kenneth Cassar, of Marsascala, also pleaded not guilty to threatening his former partner’s mother, to harassing them, to relapsing, and to breaching a protection order.

The court heard how at about 00:30 this morning, the accused went to his partner’s house in Tarxien and “threatened her with a screwdriver” before taking their daughter.

The prosecution told the court that the police could not stop him from taking his four-year-old daughter because there was no court order. Nevertheless, the court heard that an agreement was made whereby the accused would hand over his daughter to her mother this morning.

Prosecuting inspector Hubert Cini told the court that after bringing his daughter to the Paola police station at about 11:30am, the accused threatened the mother of the child.

“While the accused and his partner were at the police station, he managed to escape from my office and went downstairs where he threatened to ‘kill’ his partner, and put her ‘under the soil’,” the inspector said.

In submissions, lawyer Martin Fenech, who appeared as legal aid, told the court that until a few days ago, the accused and his partner were still seeing each other. Moreover, the defence held that the accused took his daughter because he was angry that his daughter and mother were awake at that time.

On its part, the prosecution requested that bail be withheld. In its decree, the court argued that given the serious nature of the offence, bail should be revoked. Consequently, Magistrate Ian Farrugia remanded the accused in custody.  

Lawyer Martin Fenech appeared as legal aid while Inspector Hubert Cini prosecuted.