Joseph Camilleri, 41, of San Gwann today was granted bail after being charged with assaulting police officers.

In court, the prosecution said that yesterday, Mr Camilleri was driving past police officers in San Gwann, when he made an offensive gesture towards them. The police attempted to stop him, but the accused continued driving toward his house. Near his home in San Gwann, the officers approached the man, but he pushed them off, causing slight injuries to one of the officers. 

He was arrested and subsequently charged with assault, threatening the officers, not obeying orders, refusing to give his personal details, breaching public order and speaking indecently.

In 2015, Mr Camilleri was fined €4,000 and banned from driving for five months, after being found guilty of the involuntary homicide of an eight-month old baby. The incident had occurred in 1992, when Mr Camilleri's car, a Ford Anglia, stopped. The man, at the time 18 years old, walked home and returned with his mother's car and his 13-year-old brother.

Using a rope, he tied the Ford to his mother's and asked his brother to steer the towed car home. While driving, the rope got caught up in the Ford's wheels and snapped, causing it to swerve to the opposite side and smash head on into an oncoming vehicle. In the vehicle were a couple, their three young daughters and their 12-year-old niece. An eight-month old baby died from whiplash.

Defence lawyer Gianella DeMarco asked for bail, arguing that the injuries caused were only mild and his previous case dates back to 13 years ago.

Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras upheld the request, against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €500.

Inspector Sergio Pisani prosecuted.