Main picture: Daboma Jack walking out of the Law Courts this morning. Alison Cutajar can be seen directly behind him. 

The woman involved in the alleged racial assault against Daboma Jack this morning apologised to the Hungarian student and embraced him in court as the two withdrew the criminal complaints against each other this morning.

Daboma Jack was charged with disturbing the peace and smearing Alison Cutajar’s name but the charges were dropped as the police did not present any evidence to pursue the charges. On the other hand Ms Cutajar was charged with racially motivated assault. She told the court she had apologised for her actions and insisted she never intended to offend Mr Jack or bring him into disrepute. Lawyer Roberto Montalto, appearing for Mr Jack, said his client had accepted the apology and was withdrawing his complaint against Ms Cutajar.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri, Angie Muscat and Amadeus Cachia, appearing for Ms Cutajar, said their client had acted out of anxiety after being discharged from hospital following an operation. "Her comments were never of a racist nature and she is not racist, neither now nor the day of the incident," they said.

Police Constables Justin Spiteri, Raymond Azzopardi and Daniel Debattista told Magistrate Carol Peralta that they arrived after the incident while PC Joseph Debrincat, who witnessed the incident, said he was opting not to testify as he was currently facing internal disciplinary proceedings over the way he handled the incident. The Magistrate considered the case settled as both parties declared they were withdrawing the criminal complaint they had filed against each other and declared the issue as settled. At the end of the sitting Ms Cutajar was left in tears as she embraced Mr Jack.

The incident happened on 1 July when Mr Jack was trying to organise a much needed queue during the tallinja card fiasco at the Valletta terminus. He claimed that the woman assaulted him but the Hungarian man was himself arrested when the police showed up. He was held by the police for a few minutes before being released.

In footage of the incident bystanders were heard shouting racist slurs at the man. The woman later gave herself in but alleged that the attack was not racially motivated and that Mr Jack called her a prostitute. Both were interrogated in connection with the incident. 

Pictures: Mike Camilleri