Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/915099
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2017 News 7 MATTHEW VELLA THE former partner of Yana Mintoff Bland, daughter of the erstwhile Labour prime min- ister Dom Mintoff, has been sentenced to six years in jail for stabbing her. The court presided by Magis- trate Joe Mifsud found Gheo- rge Popa guilty on five of the 12 charges against him, and placed Mintoff Bland and her son Daniel Mainwaring, under a protection order. The stabbing incident hap- pened at Mintoff Bland's Tarxien residence. Magistrate Mifsud said the the grievous crime had serious implications for the rest of society. "We are seeing a soci- ety where relationships are formed on weak foundations or through social networking, and that when these relation- ships fail, few understand that they already had an expiry date. We're witnessing cases where former lovers stalk one another, create tension and fear for the other party, finally having to face the consequenc- es of justice." Mifsud said Popa's attack on Mintoff Bland was informed by his partner's desire to end the relationship because of his abusive manner, and said Popa was a danger not only to Mintoff Bland but to society in general. "The Court will send a strong message about this type of violence, which can never be accepted, and it sends this message to those people in dif- ficulty to exit from an abusive relationship or because their partners exert some influence over them. The court reminds the public that no form of do- mestic violence will ever be ac- ceptable." Popa, 40, was accused of de- taining Mintoff Bland against her will, attempting to griev- ously injure her, slightly in- juring her and her son with a bladed instrument, carrying a weapon during the commis- sion of a crime against the per- son, carrying a knife in public without a police licence, at- tacking Mintoff Bland and her son with a knife and making verbal threats on 25 October, 2016. Popa was also accused of har- assing the woman, causing her to fear he would use violence against her in the months lead- ing up to the stabbing, arson and causing criminal damage. In previous sittings, the court was told that 40-year-old Popa had set fire to the house, after stabbing Mintoff in a jealous rage. It also emerged that Popa had been stabbed four times and nearly died as a result of the incident at Mintoff 's villa in Tarxien. Forensic evidence had shown the woman was injured with a knife, as she had been carry- ing a suitcase filled with Popa's belongings down a flight of stairs. When mother and son f led the scene, the alleged aggres- sor went up to the roof, as could be evidenced by traces of blood along the way, but not before having set fire to the house, the court was told. Popa was represented by defence counsel Benjamin Valenzia, while lawyer Joe Giglio was in parte civile lawyer for Mintoff Bland. In- spector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted. AMY MICALLEF DECESARE CHEF Manuel Aquilina provided residents at the YMCA shelter, which provides services to vari- ous individuals, troubled fami- lies, domestic violence victims and the homeless, with a three- course meal. "There are so many people at a disadvantage in our community that we felt the need to come up with an initiative to help out," said brand manager of M&Z Ltd, the importers of Knorr in Malta, Natalie Avallone. Knorr financed the meal for the YMCA residents. Kylie Muscat, head of home at YMCA Valletta said, "The resi- dents here often find themselves in problematic situations and it is nice for them to have a nice meal together and they were really grateful for this." Chef Aquilina prepared a three-course dinner, including minestrone soup with tortellini, mini meatballs and chocolate brownies. He also passed on ad- vice to residents and staff about healthy eating and tips on how to cater for a large number of peo- ple, with affordable ingredients. The shelter at the YMCA in Valletta offers various services for the homeless, as well as psy- chotherapy, social and youth work, housing, legal matters and counseling. The shelter supports the posi- tive development of youths as a preventative measure, and also intervenes by offering a social work services to those who are underprivileged or socially dis- advantaged. Homeless get three-course meal from TV presenter, chef Manuel Aquilina TV chef Manuel Aquilina prepared a three-course dinner for YMCA homeless shelter residents and shared his advice on healthy eating and tips on how to cater for large groups with affordable ingredients Aroma TV presenter Manuel Aquilina (centre) Six years' jail for Popa, former lover of Mintoff Bland who stabbed her Former lover of Mintoff scion Yana Mintoff Bland gets six years in jail for attacking partner with a knife after she threw him out of her house