Barman stabbed for not allowing drugs at the bar, court hears

Jurors in an attempted murder trial yesterday heard a bar manager explain how a Marsa man stabbed him, on Christmas eve 1999, soon after he told him not to do drugs at the bar.

Paul Zammit explained that on the night of the incident his wife phoned him and asked him to go to the bar because Christopher Kokavessis wanted to take drugs.

"When I arrived I told Chris that he could drink all he wanted but such things were not acceptable at the bar. Everything seemed fine but later on that evening, as I was clearing glasses from the bar, I heard someone shout 'look out' and as I turned round to see what had happened I felt something in my side. When I looked down I was bleeding."

Zammit was testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono in the trial by jury of Kokavessis, 34, of Marsa, who is pleading not guilty to his attempted murder at White Stars Bar, Marsa, on December 24, 1999, and the possession of cannabis resin.

During his testimony Zammit explained that after the stabbing Kokavessis ran away and later on that evening he (Zammit) was taken to hospital.

He denied beating Kokavessis and said he still did not know why he had stabbed him.

He said that he had had drug problems in the past and had a pending court case for drug abuse.

Earlier, Zammit's wife, Josette, said that on the night of the incident there were a lot of people at the bar, including Kokavessis.

"Chris, who I knew, was at the bar speaking nonsense. He started talking to my children about horses then mentioned making a pudding.

"I did not take any notice until he mentioned a line of cocaine and I got worried. Being a woman, I was scared to take on a drunken man so I phoned my husband."

She explained that when her husband arrived at the bar he had a drink with Kokavessis then told him that he had better go home because he looked tired.

"Chris went out, calmly, and crossed the road to his house. About five minutes later I saw him rush back in and head towards by husband. I told my husband that Chris was coming back in and as he turned to look out, Chris stabbed my husband in the side," she said.

She said she did not see anyone beat up Kokavessis.

The bill of indictment, that was read out to jurors yesterday morning, claimed that on Christmas eve 1999 Kokavessis went to White Stars Bar at about 10.30 p.m.

After a couple of drinks Kokavessis informed Zammit's wife, Josette, who was tending the bar, that he was going to put cocaine on the counter.

She told him to remove it but Kokavessis ignored her so she called for her husband.

When Zammit arrived at the bar he told Kokavessis to remove the drugs and leave but, again, Kokavessis ignored him.

Kokavessis went to get a knife from his car, went back into the bar and, with the intention of endangering Zammit's life, he stabbed him in the back.

When Zammit turned around Kokavessis stabbed him in the stomach.

People who were in the bar at the time intervened to stop Kokavessis and slightly injured him in the process. Kokavessis ran away and Zammit was rushed to hospital where he was operated.

Meanwhile during investigations police searched Kokavessis' house and found a piece of cannabis resin on the cooker hood.

The trial continues this morning.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Dr Mark Said is prosecuting.

Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta are appearing for Kokavessis.