A judge this afternoon upheld an appeal filed by the Attorney General and revoked a magistrate's decision not to issue a protection order for a man who was stabbed by his lover's husband.

Last Saturday, a 38-year-old man from Paola pleaded guilty to seriously injuring a man who he found in bed with his wife when he returned home early from work.

At that point, the lover attacked the husband with a mug he found on the bedside table. So the husband ran to the kitchen, grabbed a knife and returned to the bedroom where he stabbedthe lover in the face and hand.

Roberto Montalto, representing the accused said that his client was threatened and provoked and was reacting out of shock of betrayal. The man admitted to stabbing his wife's lover, however a sentence was not handed down as the court needs to hear evidence about the man being provoked. 

The prosecution had requested a protection order, however the Magistrate ruled it was not necessary, only for Justice David Scicluna to accept the appeal and issue a protection order for the victim and also for the man's wife. 

Police inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted. Lawyers Kevin Valletta and Vincienne Vella appeared for the Attorney General's office.