Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1198140
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 JANUARY 2020 JAMES DEBONO 23 new apartments and three offices over six floors are being proposed instead of a large mid-19th century dwelling and an adjoining 400sq.m mature garden set between Triq Ma- nuel Dimech and Triq Parisio. The green enclave is located in the vicinity of the scheduled Villa Bo- nici and its gardens. The Planning Authority has so far turned down attempts to develop the Villa Bonici gardens in to apart- ments and other commercial devel- opments. The development entails the exca- vation of the garden which includes a number of mature trees and the development of four basement ga- rage levels set to include 32 garages. 19 apartments, four penthouses and three offices will be constructed on top of the existing garden. Although the local plan does not protect the garden, the application may be in breach of policies en- couraging the protection of herit- age, urban conservation areas and streetscapes. The building fronting Manoel Di- mech Street is included in the urban conservation area where the com- plete demolition of existing build- ings is not normally allowed. Large Sliema mature garden threatened by development LAWYERS have claimed that a man charged with assaulting his partner was the victim of a malicious police report by the woman, who had been ordered to keep her distance from him under "several" protection orders. The 31 year-old man, from Hamrun, was arraigned before magistrate Audrey Demicoli this morning, accused of slightly injuring the woman, threatening her and failing to abide by his bail conditions. The court heard how on 5 January, the police had received a report by the ex- partner who alleged that two days before, the accused had gone to her house, where the pair had argued. During this argu- ment she had suffered slight injuries, she claimed. Defence lawyer Joe Giglio explained to the court that the accused had a number of protection orders issued in his favour after various assaults on his person by the woman. The charges were to be seen as a further act of aggression in his regard by the woman, he said. Prosecuting police Inspector Jonathan Ransley did not object to a bail request by the defence. The man was released from arrest against a €500 deposit and a €2,000 per- sonal guarantee, on condition that he sign a bail book weekly. Lawyers Joe Giglio and Roberta Bonello were defence counsel. Man charged with domestic violence claims malicious police report by ex-partner Above: An aerial view of the garden behind the mid-19th century building in Manuel Dimech Street and (right) the entrance to the garden on Parisio Street