A Libyan youth was arraigned in court today and charged with the attempted murder of two persons and injuring another four in last Sunday’s stabbing attack in Paceville.
Ehab Zorgani, 22, from Tripoli, who is unemployed, was charged with the attempted murder of Hadji Salah and Antoon Van der Heide, seriously injuring them, and also grievously injuring Ali Mihannad Fadlalla, Brian Jan Bos, De Roo Neik and Richard Galea. He was also charged with carrying a knife and breaching the peace.
Mr Zorgani, a refugee who lives in Zebbug, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Legal Aid laywer Victor Bugeja said the accused was not requesting bail. The Libyan was remanded in custody.
Magistrate Joseph Mifsud said he wanted to make it clear that, while Malta had to show hospitality and be a pioneer in refugee protection, the court would not permit anyone residing in Malta under refugee status to commit crimes such as the alleged incident where Maltese citizens as well as others were put in harm’s way.
Inspector Saviour Baldacchino prosecuted.
On his way into the law courts building, the accused gave the middle finger sign to journalists and photographers. However, a more subdued Mr Zorgani buried his face in his lap on his way to the prison.
Sources said the initial argument broke out between Mr Zorgani and two other Libyans although police have yet to establish what led to the fight. The accused does not know the two other men. The Maltese man and the two Dutchmen who were injured were just bystanders who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tests to determine whether the accused was drunk when he carried out the attack have yet to be concluded.
One of the injured Dutchmen, 19, was in a critical condition yesterday but his condition has since improved. The man underwent surgery at Mater Dei Hospital.
Two other Dutchmen, two Libyans, aged 31 and 38, and a Maltese man, 29-year-old Richard Galea, were also treated for injuries. The Kirkop man suffered a large gash on his cheek. He has since been discharged from hospital.
Despite rumours that up to 25 people had been assaulted, only six were treated in hospital although it is not exclude that others were hurt but failed to file a police report. According to reports the aggressor was also taken to hospital for treatment but in court he did not show any signs of injury.
The Malta Independent yesterday spoke to an eyewitness, a woman who was accompanying Mr Galea. She said she and the victim were walking along an alley when this man came running up shouting obscenities in Maltese in a Libyan accent. The woman said the aggressor “just started to slash out at people without provocation”.
Paceville incident
Photographs: Jonathan Borg