Four men were charged yesterday with involvement in the incidents that occurred in Valletta during the hunters’ protest and with forming part of a group of more than 10 people with the intention of committing a crime.
The incidents took place on 7 March in Valletta. During this protest, journalists and photographers were assaulted and photographic equipment was destroyed and stolen in the mayhem.
Christopher Azzopardi, 29, and Tony Farrugia, 41, both from Qormi, pleaded not guilty to hurling glass bottles at police officers and other people with the intention of seriously injuring them. They were also accused of assaulting the police, forming part of a group of people with the intention of committing a crime, threatening the police and others and breaching the peace.
The men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them and magistrate Doreen Clarke granted them bail against a deposit of Lm200 and a personal guarantee of Lm1,000.
In a separate sitting, Massimo Bartolo, 22, from Birkirkara, pleaded guilty to letting off petards and other pyrotechnic material without being in possession of a licence, disobeying police orders, forming part of a group of more than 10 people with the intention of committing a crime, refusing to supply the police with his particulars and breaching the peace.
Bartolo had his case deferred for judgement and was, in the meantime, granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm200.
In another sitting, Stephen Caruana, 26, from St Paul’s Bay, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a wooden rifle during the protest, which although non-functional as a firearm, still requires to be licensed by the Police Commissioner. He also pleaded guilty to forming part of a group of more than 10 people with the intention of committing a crime.
Caruana’s case was also deferred for judgement and he was granted bail against a personal guarantee of Lm200.
Police Inspectors Pierre Micallef Grimaud and Anthony Portelli prosecuted in all cases while Dr Matthew Brincat appeared for all the accused.