Fish hawkers end up in court after Marsaxokk fight

Curtis Camilleri, 35 of Marsaxlokk, was handed a suspended sentence on Tuesday after he was found guilty of slightly injuring a woman and threatening her son. 

The incident took place on January 9, 2022 at Xatt is-Sajjieda in Marsaxlokk.

Camilleri was accused of injuring William Incorvaja and slightly injuring the latter’s mother. Both Camilleri and Incorvaja are fish hawkers.

Police officers told the court that when they arrived at the scene, Camilleri claimed that Incorvaja had harassed him and provoked him repeatedly, spitting on the ground before insulting him.  

Incorvaja testified that on the day he had set up his stand in Marsaxlokk with his mother and brother. As he took some ice flakes to his uncle he noticed Camilleri approaching, screaming and cursing.  

Incorvaja said he hid in a kitchen as his uncle tried to send Camilleri away. The accused shattered a glass pane on the kitchen door, injuring him.

As he tried to flee the scene, Incorvaja said he was punched on the forehead by Camilleri.

Incorvaja testified that there had been three previous arguments with Camilleri.

Incorvaja’s mother, Maria, also testified. She recalled seeing Camilleri’s relatives run towards her brother’s residence. She followed them and found her son, William, bleeding.

The woman shouted at the accused, demanding an explanation. He shouted back, insulting her and then punching her in the head and face.

The woman said that the arguments between her family and that of the accused were a result of envy since they are competitors at the open air market.

A court-appointed expert classified the injuries sustained by William Incorvaja as grievous with one percent disability.

The court in its considerations observed that the prosecution failed to present CCTV footage which would have helped it to understand the dynamics of the incident and how the fight broke out.

It also observed that while Incorvaja said Camilleri had caused him the injuries after punching the glass pane, inconsistencies emerged because the broken glass was found on the side on which the accused was. The court observed that the crime scene was not preserved. No photos or a plan of the area where the incident happened were presented in court.

The court deemed that the shattered glass on Camilleri’s side was compatible with Incorvaja hurting himself when he punched the glass and it therefore acquitted Camilleri of grievously injuring Incorvaja. 

Camilleri was however found guilty of slightly injuring Maria Incorvaja and threatening and insulting her son. He was handed a six-month prison term suspended for one year. A one-year restraining order was issued in favour of Maria Incorvaja.

Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit presided. Police inspector Jonathan Cassar prosecuted.