Man accused of domestic violence walks free after wife refuses to testify

A man who allegedly held a knife to his wife’s throat in the course of a domestic dispute walked out of court a free man on Wednesday, after his wife refused to testify against him.  The 42-year-old plasterer had charges against him dropped at the end of a tense court sitting which saw his wife called to the witness stand three separate times.  A court heard earlier this month that the couple, who live in Birkirkara, had a fight on the afternoon of Sunday, January 19 in which the man held a knife to his wife’s throat.  He was arrested and charged with causing his wife to fear violence, insulting and threatening her. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.  The woman, who has five children with the man, initially told the court that she did not want to testify against her husband because she was “afraid”.  That prompted commotion, with the magistrate noting that the witness appeared fearful and the woman’s own lawyers saying that she was acting against their legal advice.  The witness was instructed to return to the stand. She reiterated that she no longer wanted to testify, but said that she didn’t want to do so because of her children. Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo...