Accused of harassment for parenting

A court has warned a couple against letting unsettled scores from their failed marriage interfere with the upbringing of their children, as it cleared the father of slightly injuring their son, by hitting him in the face.

Magistrate Joseph Mifsud, presiding the court of magistrates in Gozo, heard how the wife had filed a police report, saying that her son had told her that his father had slapped him in the face. On another occasion, the father had “punished the boy by not letting him use an electronic tablet.”

However, she had testified that she had not seen any marks or injuries on the boy. The father flatly denied all of the wife's allegations.

The court had not allowed the son to testify in order to protect him from being “used as a football so one of the parents can score a goal.”

After noting that the woman's account was not corroborated by any evidence, the court said it could only reach one conclusion – the that woman was not a reliable witness.

Neither was there a course of conduct, necessary for the separate harassment charge, as only one incident was reported.

The prosecution should use more care before issuing such charges, said the court, in order to avoid the “ridiculous situation where a father chastising and correcting his son by denying access to a tablet is accused of harassment.”

William Cushcieri appeared for the woman. Lawyer Mario Scerri was defence counsel.

Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri prosecuted.