The defendants are Giovanna Pace, 53, from Qormi, her two sons Marco Pace and Joseph Pace, 34 from Qormi and 26 from Valletta respectively, and Christopher Mazzitelli, 23, from Qormi.

The four were charged with heroin, cocaine and cannabis possession and trafficking. Marco Pace, known as il-pinzell, was charged with threatening and violently resisting 11 police officers, breaching the peace and relapsing.

His mother alone was charged with seriously injuring a woman police sergeant, disobeying her orders, as well as threatening and violently resisting six police officers. Christopher Mazzitelli, who was seen smoking in the corridors of the Law Courts after being arraigned in court, was charged with being a relapser.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Dennis Montebello, turned down a request for the defendants to be granted bail. It also upheld the prosecution’s request for the defendants’ assets to be frozen.

Defence lawyers Emanuel Mallia and Giannella Caruana Curran requested the court to appoint a doctor to examine Marco Pace and his mother Giovanna and for photographs of their injuries to be taken. They also asked the court to order the police to exhibit a spray used during their arrest. Magistrate Montebello upheld these requests.

The case continues on 9 May.

Police Superintendent Neil Harrison and Inspector Josric Mifsud prosecuted.