A school watchman was yesterday fined Lm250 after he was found guilty of beating up a teacher at the St Joseph Secondary School in Marsa.

Victor Mizzi, 53, from Zebbug, was found guilty of assaulting teacher Anthony Briffa at 11.45am on 19 May 2004.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, who presided overt the case, heard that on the day in question Mr Briffa filed a report at the Education Ministry against Mizzi claiming that he was not doing his job and had not reported for work on a particular day.

The court was told that during the sitting before the ministry’s Disciplinary Board, Mizzi stood up and punched Mr Briffa in the face. He said he was taken to the Floriana Health Centre and later to St Luke’s Hospital for treatment. He was found to be suffering slight injuries.

The court heard that Mizzi gave himself up at the Valletta police station where he told police that he and Mr Briffa were before the Disciplinary Board when Mr Briffa was testifying against him and making things seem worse than they actually were.

Mizzi said he was sitting next to Mr Briffa when he stood up and punched him but never hit him with anything else.

Mr Briffa told the court that Mizzi started shouting, swore at him and even threatened to kill him.

Handing down his judgement, magistrate Quintano said this was not the first time that Mizzi was found guilty of assaulting other people. This time, however, he assaulted a public official while he was carrying out his duties. He therefore fined him Lm250 and was ordered not to speak to or approach Mr Briffa for a year with a Lm100 fine in default.

Police inspectors Ramon Mercieca and Josric Mifsud prosecuted.