Suspended sentence for alcoholic who threatened to kill mother and her partner

A 21-year old Bulgarian with an alcohol problem has appeared in court this morning, accused of threatening to stab his mother and her partner to death while in an alcoholic rage yesterday evening.

Inspector Maurice Curmi arraigned Teodor Hristov before magistrate Charmaine Galea, charging him with threatening the couple at their St. Paul's Bay residence and causing them to fear for their safety.

The accused had "threatened to kill his parents with a knife and had spat at them" after the mother and her partner had urged him get his life back on track and find a job, the Inspector explained.

Inspector Curmi told the court that the man's mother had been very concerned at her son's recent alcoholic behaviour. “About a month ago he was caught running around St. Paul's Bay in the nude and was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital.” However, he was not receiving any form of medical care at present, the court hear.

The accused's mother was summoned to the witness stand to explain the problem. In rudimentary English, the woman explained that the accused, who has been in Malta for the past year, had lived alone before moving back in with her five months ago. He was employed and but did not go to work, said the woman.

Asked if the woman had an objection to the accused staying with her she said she did not, as long as he kept away from alcohol. “If he drink he start making problem...if he don't drink he don't make problem,” stated the woman.

The Bulgarian said staying in Malta, provided he found somewhere to live, would be better than returning to Bulgaria.

Lawyer Francine Abela, who was legal aid to the accused, entered a guilty plea on his behalf.

The court handed down a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years and imposed a three-year protection order in favour of his mother and her partner, warning him that he is not to approach them during that time.