Jailed mother appeals against a second term

Waylon Johnston A bitter custody battle between a couple raged on yesterday as the mother appealed against a second jail term imposed after she was found to have prevented her teenage son from seeing his father. The woman, a 57-year-old teacher, hit the headlines last month when she was jailed for three months after being found guilty of a similar charge. She was subsequently granted a presidential pardon. Robert Abela, appearing for the husband, said the woman was so possessive that she sat next to her son, who is now 18, as he studied. He also questioned why the son had not testified. Acting for the woman, Ludwig Caruana said there was no way she could keep her teenage son from seeing his father – adding it was up to her son to decide whether to go or not. At one point, the woman got up to speak to reporters which elicited a strong reaction from Dr Abela who, addressing Mr Justice Lawrence Quintano, said: “This is really a trial by media.” The woman said on the witness stand that her former husband did not care about his son’s studies and always wanted to see the boy when it suited him. She added that her son enjoyed spending time with her. The man said his son had told him he...