A 74-year-old St Julian's man was charged with the attempted murder of two police officers on Sunday after a dramatic 90-minute standoff in Ta' Giorni that left one officer critically injured and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
John Agius was arraigned before Magistrate Giannella Caruana Busuttil on Sunday morning, two days after the incident in which Special Intervention Unit Sergeant Johann Vella sustained serious gunshot injuries, while Constable Omar Sharif suffered minor injuries.
Agius, known locally as Johnny tal-Għalqa, was also charged with arson, endangering and threatening construction workers, causing injuries to the two police officers, resisting arrest, illegally discharging a firearm and unlawfully detaining police officers by trapping them inside the property.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to prosecuting inspector Stephen Gulia, the incident began after Agius allegedly arrived at a construction site adjoining his property with his brother and started a fire beneath workers operating a crane.
While his brother left the scene, Agius allegedly entered his property and, after refusing police orders to come outside, opened fire on officers when they entered the premises.
Constable Sharif was the first officer to be injured. Sergeant Vella, who formed part of the Special Intervention Unit that later entered the property, was shot in the face, neck and leg. He was initially in a critical condition but his condition improved on Saturday.
Inspector Gulia told the court that Agius refused to surrender for around 90 minutes, during which several officers became trapped inside the building.
The accused eventually allowed them to leave before surrendering following further negotiations.
The prosecution also told the court that Agius had four shotguns and two revolvers registered in his name.
A request for bail was refused.
The court also issued a protection order in favour of police officers Omar Sharif and Johann Vella, as well as construction workers Nawaf Khasem, Mohammed Kasem Ibrahim, Frederic Pierre Villa and Cruise Tonna.
Agius was warned that breaching the order could result in a two-year prison sentence and a €7,000 fine.
His brother, George Agius, is expected to be arraigned separately.
Photo credit: Jay Nabbe