Taxi driver remanded in custody after threatening witness

A taxi driver had to be restrained with handcuffs in the criminal courts today, after he persisted with threatening another man he claimed was having an affair with his wife.

Julian Genovese, 50 of St Julian's, was handcuffed and restrained by three officers after he threatened David Caruana - a witness whom he had previously threatened - despite Caruana's repeated statements that he doesn't know Genovese or his wife.

Genovese - who has a long history of crime - was arrested on 23 January after he walked into an office in St. Andrews asking for Caruana.

Matthew Bonello, who took the witness stand before Magistrate Consuelo Herrera, said that Genovese had told him he was looking for David Caruana, who worked in that office. "He said he wanted to shoot and kill him, and that then he would also come for me," Bonello said.

Lawyer Joseph Brincat, who appeared for Genovese, requested bail for his client, only to learn that Genovese had just threatened the Caruana again just outside the courtroom.

The Magistrate ordered Genovese to be brought back into her courtroom, while three officers pinned him to a wall and handcuffed him. Once brought before the magistrate, Genovese was scolded and told to stop his menacing antics.

David Caruana, who was brought in to confirm the threats, appeared distraught and told the court that Genovese was mistaken. "I don't know Genovese or his wife, and I cannot take it anymore. His threats are continuous, he phones, me follows me... I just don't know him," Caruana said.

Genovese kept on repeating that Caruana must leave his wife alone, prompting the Magistrate to insist that he should listen to the witness who is making it clear that he doesn't know anything about what he is telling him.

Herrera ordered Genovese to be sent to Corradino Prisons in preventive custody, due to his persistent threats to the witness.

Genevose was previously jailed for three years in 2009, after assaulting his sister-in-law back in 2007. He had breached the conditions of a previous release and broken two suspended jail terms.