A 55-year-old man from Cospicua has been remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty to shooting at two people on Wednesday.

Carmelo Calleja was arraigned on Friday in connection with the shooting that took place on 6 January.

The police had said that three people were arrested over the incident – the two brothers who reported the shooting, and the man who allegedly fired a shotgun in their direction. Cannabis was found at the residence belonging to the brothers in Triq id-Dejqa.

Calleja, who is partially blind, was charged with carrying a weapon during the commission of a crime, discharging the weapon in a residential area, breaching the peace, using foul language, insulting, threatening and attacking the two men and recidivism.

The accused, who was assisted by Legal Procurator Peter Paul Zammit, told the court he is not in employment since he is “ill.”

The prosecution objected to the man’s request for bail, arguing that these were serious charges and Calleja’s actions were dangerous.

“The man has problems with his vision and could have hit anyone,” said Inspector Melvin Zammit, prosecuting.

His lawyer argued, however, that he was acting in self-defence after he was attacked inside his home by the two alleged victims. Zammit asked the court to provide protection for his client, saying that the man could barely walk or see.

Bail was denied. The court heard how the two men will be arraigned by summons.

 

Marsa mugging

Meanwhile, two men have been remanded in custody after they were charged with mugging and injuring a man on New Year’s Day.

Elton Brincat, 42 from Marsa and Brendan Cachia, 33 of Vittoriosa were accused stealing the 67-year-old victim’s mobile phone. Brincat alone was also charged with having slightly injured the man, holding him against his will, breaching bail conditions and relapsing. Cachia was also charged with driving dangerously and without insurance, and with recidivism.

The case took place at 5.15 am in Triq is-Salib tal-Marsa on Wednesday as the man was exercising.

Both men pleaded not guilty.

Lawyer Martin Fenech, appearing for Cachia, made a request for bail, saying that the charges were, in essence, simply theft.

Inspector Lydon Zammit rebutted, pointing out that this was a violent mugging of an elderly man. The accused also have a long criminal record, he said.  

Brincat, who was represented by lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Rene Darmanin, did not request bail.

Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo denied bail for Cachia.

Inspectors Lydon Zammit, Stephen Gulia and Roderick Attard prosecuted.