A young man who late last month pleaded not guilty to violently resisting police officers who had asked him to hand over a telescopic baton he was wielding in the streets of Paceville, has been granted bail.
The 21-year old from San Gwann, who cannot be named due to a court order, had been arraigned before Magisrtate Marseanne Farrugia on 24 October following the incident which took place in St George’s Road, St Julian’s.
The court had heard prosecuting Inspector Matthew Spagnol explain how police patrolling the streets of Paceville had resolved a minor argument which had broken out between two young men in the early hours of Monday morning. The police were then informed that one of the men was carrying a weapon.
But when the officers approached him, the youth had become aggressive, resisting the officers and slightly injuring two police constables in the scuffle which ensued.
The man’s aggressive behaviour allegedly continued in hospital where he had been taken for treatment after suffering some injuries in the incident.
The accused is pleading not guilty to slightly injuring the two officers without intending to place their lives in danger, violently resisting arrest, threatening or insulting the policemen, whilst being in possession of a weapon. He was also charged with refusing to obey legitimate police orders.
Defence lawyer Alfred Abela requested bail again today, arguing that just because there were some police witnesses who were yet to testify, this did not mean that bail should be withheld. “God forbid bail is refused to everyone who still has police witnesses to testify, because these testify last in compilations of evidence, ” said the lawyer.
Bail was granted by magistrate Monica Vella this afternoon. The accused was ordered to sign a bail book three times a week and observe a curfew. A third party guarantee of €5000 was made by the accused’s mother. “If you breach one of these conditions you will land your mother in trouble,” said the court, which also forbade him from approaching the police officers involved or going near Paceville.