Two brothers were yesterday fined Lm750 between them after they were found guilty of assaulting heart surgeon Alex Manche shortly after their mother passed away on 9 June last year.

Charles Micallef, 52, from Floriana and Louis Micallef, 58, from Luqa, were accused of assaulting Prof. Manche in the corridors of St Luke’s Hospital after he told one of them that it was prohibited to smoke in hospital.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, heard that shortly before the incident took place, the brothers received the sad news that their mother had passed away.

The incident took place when Louis Micallef was smoking in the stairway and was reprimanded by Prof. Manche who told him that he was not allowed to smoke in hospital. After having visited his patients in the wards, Prof. Manche passed from the corridor where the brothers were and he was assaulted.

The brothers also pleaded guilty to threatening Prof. Manche, slightly injuring him and breaching the peace. Louis Micallef alone was further charged with smoking in a public place.

The brothers pleaded guilty to all the charges except that of slightly injuring Prof. Manche. In fact, since the prosecution did not provide any evidence to substantiate this charge, the brothers were found not guilty.

The court heard defence counsel Jose Herrera saying the brothers were very sorry for what they had done.

Handing down his judgement, Magistrate Quintano noted that Prof. Manche had forgiven the accused and that the defendants had apologised for their actions. He fined Carmelo Micallef Lm350 and Louis Micallef Lm400.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted while Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Joe Giglio appeared for the accused.