The elderly son of an 85-year old woman landed himself behind bars when he damaged the front door and window of his mother's house late on Wednesday.
Anthony Balzan, 62 of no fixed address, had allegedly made it a habit of turning up at his 85-year-old mother’s door, demanding money.
Following his umpteenth visit the old lady’s refusal to speak to him and did not let him in. The man allegedly flew into a rage, damaging the front door and shuttered window of the house.
His terrified sister who called the police, who arrested him and took him to court on Thursday.
He was charged with having harassed his two relatives, causing them to fear violence, besides damaging third party property.
Following a plea of not guilty the prosecution strong object to bail in view of the fact that the man had apparently supplied a wrong address to the police. Moreover, the two victims were still to testify and the man had evidently made it his habit of pestering his mother for money, Inspector Trevor Micallef argued.
Defence lawyer Yanika Bugeja, assisting the man as legal aid counsel, countered that her client did have a fixed address and had only moved to a hotel because he felt lonely and lacked company.
Moreover, he had not entered his mother’s home, was still presumed innocent and was sufficiently trustworthy.
However, in view of the nature of the charges, besides the fact that both victims were still to testify and the man could not provide assurance in observing bail conditions, Magistrate Gabriella Vella remanded him in custody.