Man apologises for harassing ex and threatening to behead her dog

# “I’m Sorry I Threatened to Behead Your Dog”: Maltese Courts Hand Down Suspended Sentence in Chilling Ex-Harassment Case

A 34-year-old Birkirkara man broke down in court yesterday and publicly apologised to his former partner after admitting he had bombarded her with hundreds of calls, lurid insults and, in a grotesque climax, threatened to decapitate her beloved French bulldog. Magistrate Gabriella Vella sentenced him to 18 months in jail, suspended for three years, and slapped him with a €5,000 fine – a verdict that has reopened Malta’s national conversation on domestic abuse, pet welfare and how seriously the island takes psychological violence.

According to the prosecution, the harassment spanned six weeks last autumn after the woman, a 29-year-old Valletta hospitality manager, ended a two-year relationship. Investigators traced 412 WhatsApp voice notes, 38 missed calls in a single night and a string of Instagram stories in which the accused super-imposed knives over photos of the dog, “Priscilla”, captioned “next time I won’t stop at the leash”. In the most disturbing clip, played in hushed courtroom silence, he warned: “I’ll send you her head in a box, wrapped like a pastizz.”

## “We’re Not Exaggerating – This Is Terror”

Outside the courthouse, the victim, who cannot be named by court order, told *Hot Malta* she felt “trapped in my own country”.
“He knew I lived alone, he knew my dog is my family,” she said, voice cracking. “When you grow up in Malta you’re taught that ‘kellimha ħabibek’ – just talk it out – but psychological terror is real. People minimise it until someone actually gets hurt.”

Her statement resonates on an island where, until 2018, stalking was not even a standalone crime. The 2018 Domestic Violence Act overhaul finally criminalised “persistent unwanted contact”, yet NGOs argue enforcement lags behind legislation.

## A Cultural Flashpoint: Pets as Family

The dog-beheading threat struck a particular nerve in Malta, where pet ownership has rocketed 46 % since 2015 and cafés proudly advertise “dog-friendly” terraces. Facebook group *Malta Dog Lovers* (52 k members) exploded with comments after the hearing:
> “If he can threaten a puppy, he can threaten a child,” one user wrote. Another posted a template email for readers to pressure MPs for tougher animal-cruelty sentencing.

Animal welfare commissioner Alison Bezzina welcomed the outrage but cautioned against “token sympathy”.
> “The same people sharing crying emojis still buy rabbits from illegal pet shops. We need to recognise cruelty to animals as a red flag for interpersonal violence,” Bezzina told *Hot Malta*. Studies by the island’s Gender-Based Violence Research Hub show 68 % of Maltese partners who abuse women also harm or threaten family pets, mirroring international data.

## Community Impact: “Suspension Feels Like a Safety Net Made of Lace”

The suspended sentence means the man walks free provided he completes psychiatric therapy, 200 hours of community service and stays 100 m away from both woman and dog. While the court imposed a three-year protection order, some locals fear the punishment is too lenient.

> “If a foreigner read this headline they’d picture Malta as a harmless rocky paradise,” said Dr. Claudia Calleja, lawyer and women’s rights activist. “But every week my pro-bono roster fills with women whose exes track them with AirTags, threaten to leak intimate photos or, yes, kill their pets. Suspension can feel like a safety net made of lace – decorative, not protective.”

Others argue the ruling balances justice with rehabilitation. Magistrate Vella noted the accused’s spotless prior record, early guilty plea and commitment to therapy. Court-appointed psychologist Dr. Ivan Muscat testified that the man displayed “borderline traits exacerbated by job loss and cannabis abuse” but showed “genuine remorse”.

## The Bigger Picture: From “Għażżien” to #Enough

The case lands amid shifting Maltese attitudes. Once dismissed with the catch-all word “għażżien” (careless), toxic behaviour is increasingly called out by younger generations wielding TikTok, not traditional silence. Government-funded NGOs reported a 30 % spike in helpline calls after social-media coverage of yesterday’s hearing, suggesting victims feel emboldened.

Still, resources remain stretched. Domestic violence shelter *Dar Merħba Bik* is operating at 92 % capacity; the police’s newly-formed Stalking Unit has only eight members for the entire archipelago. And while courts can impose electronic tagging on abusers, the devices have yet to be rolled out.

For the victim and Priscilla the French bulldog, the apology offers small solace. She has installed CCTV, changed her phone number and plans to relocate to Gozo.
> “I love Malta, but I need distance,” she said, stroking the dog’s ears as cameras flashed. “If my story makes even one guy think twice before pressing ‘send’ on a threat, maybe we’re moving forward.”

Whether the island’s institutions move with her remains the open question. As the summer sun beats down on courthouse steps, the message from activists is clear: justice must be more than a hashtag – it must be a guarantee.

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