Raymond Axiaq, a 53-year-old man from Zurrieq known as Il-Banana, today was acquitted of injuring a Nationalist Party employee, Nicholas Azzopardi.

The incident took place outside a well-known pastizzi shop in Rabat known as is-Serkin on 4 August, 2013 

Police Inspector Sarah Magri had told a court how Azzopardi identified a man with white hair as being the person who had hit him and caused damage to his glasses.

The police had said that a week after the incident, they received anonymous information that someone known as Il-Banana had been involved in the commotion.

They initially called in a certain Joseph Axiaq for questioning, who is the accused man’s brother. Axiaq said that he was not at Serkin on the night of the incident, and explained that Il-Banana is the family nickname. The Police then sent for Raymond Axiaq, who admitted to having been present on the night of the incident but denied assaulting Mr Azzopardi.

The court found that there were conflicting versions by Mr Azzopardi and Mr Axiaq and highlighted that the prosecution did not present any witnesses in the case. Therefore, the court ruled that it was not Mr Axiaq who assaulted Mr Azzopardi.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared on behalf of Mr Axiaq while Police Inspector Sarah Magri prosecuted. Magistrate Josette Demicoli presided over the case.