Accused demanded 'respect' moments before pushing victim into oncoming traffic
Alleged victim tells court he did not know the aggressor before altercation
A man who suffered grievous injuries after being pushed into oncoming traffic told the court on Tuesday that his alleged aggressor had demanded “respect” moments before the attack.
Construction worker Christian Calì, 25, from Gżira, is pleading not guilty to causing grievous injuries to a Colombian man, as well as assaulting, threatening and insulting him.
The victim told the court on Tuesday that on November 22 between 8.45am and 9.15am he was drinking at a St Julian's bar with three other friends, two of whom worked there, when Calì suddenly approached them, demanding that they “show respect”. The group ignored him and continued drinking.
They then decided to leave the bar seeing Calì had turned aggressive, with the witness clarifying that they could not tell whether the accused was drunk or drugged.
As they were leaving, Calì approached two of the group and started arguing with them, repeating that they “needed to show him respect”. He then approached the alleged victim and they verbally argued, but the witness could not remember what was said. Calì tried to confront the alleged victim, and the latter’s friends intervened trying to calm things down.
The four friends crossed the road, and Calì allegedly followed them and started hitting the alleged victim. One of the women in the group intervened, and Calì allegedly pushed her and started kicking her. Another man stopped Calì while the alleged victim helped the woman up. At one point, Calì went from behind the alleged victim and pushed him into the street.
The witness tried to react but he lost consciousness after he was hit by an oncoming car.
He said he regained consciousness at about 11.45am at Mater Dei Hospital and found his female friend next to him.
He told the court he was faced with a substantial hospital bill and was not allowed to be discharged before entering a repayment agreement. He paid €552.91 in deposit and will continue paying just over €200 every month until the bill is fully covered. He is now attending free physiotherapy sessions courtesy of an acquaintance, otherwise he would have to pay for further hospital treatment.
Under cross-examination, the witness insisted he did not know Calì before the altercation. While the defence tried to suggest that the alleged victim was drunk and had harassed Calì, the witness rejected the claim adding that he was not drunk at the time of the incident.
According to the eyewitnesses, the alleged victim did not resist nor engage with the accused.
At the end of the sitting, the court ruled that there was enough evidence for Calì to face trial over the incident.
Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided.
AG lawyer Miryea Mifsud prosecuted, assisted by police inspector James Turner. Lawyers José Herrera and Naomi Spiteri assisted the accused.