Man admits to slightly injuring partner

A British man, resident in Birzebbugia, was given a suspended sentence after slightly injuring a female cohabitant in an argument.

Darren Jon Bunting was charged with causing slight bodily harm on the woman. During his arraignment on 24 December last year, Bunting pleaded guilty and confirmed his plea after having been afforded sufficient time to reconsider his admission.

The court, in its deliberations on punishment, noted that the injuries were inflicted during an argument at the couple’s residence and that it appeared to have been the first such altercation during their relationship. Magistrate Rachel Montebello also observed that the injuries suffered by the woman “do not appear to be of mere small consequence, at least physically,” to the woman.

For these reasons, and in view of the man’s early guilty plea and clean criminal record, the court imposed a period of imprisonment for three months, which it suspended for 18 months. The magistrate also ordered the man not to approach the victim for 12 months against a guarantee of €500. 

Bunting told the court that he intended to return to the UK.

Inspector Roderick Attard prosecuted.