An 18-year-old Syrian youth from Marsa pleaded not guilty to grievously injuring another young person during a violent fight that took place at Golden Bay last Sunday.

Mohamad Haj was charged with causing grievous injuries to the victim, causing him to fear that violence would be used against him, violent assault, and breaching the public peace.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The court heard that on 19 April at around 5:45pm, police were informed of a fight involving approximately ten people at Golden Bay. District police officers and members of the Intervention Unit were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers identified two suspects climbing up rocks in the area.

Police Inspector Warren Galea added that several people were involved in the altercation and that some individuals involved in the fight managed to flee the area. He said that investigations are ongoing. Galea confirmed that Haj did not resist arrest and did not attempt to flee. He was climbing up the rocks when officers ordered him to stop, which he did immediately.

During his statement, the accused reportedly told police that he was himself a victim. After his arrest, Haj was taken to a nearby health centre, where it was confirmed by a medical certificate that he had sustained light injuries.

A request for bail was made by the defence.

The prosecution objected, arguing that there was a real risk of interference with witnesses, noting that the victim had yet to testify and that several witnesses who still need to give evidence are friends of the accused. They also objected on the basis that investigations on the case are still ongoing.

The defence countered that bail should be the rule rather than the exception and stressed that the accused's version of events is completely different from that of the victim.

Defence lawyers argued that fears of witness interference were not realistic, particularly since CCTV footage from the area exists and once extracted, it would clearly show how the events unfolded.

The defence added that the accused has a clean criminal record.

After considering submissions from both sides, the court denied the request for bail and ordered that the alleged victim testify at the next sitting.

The prosecution was led by Inspector Warren Galea together with Attorney General lawyer Joseph Camilleri Azarov.

Lawyer Thomas Barbara Sant appeared for the accused. Magistrate Elaine Rizzo presided over the case.