Man looking for missing goats 'pointed revolver' at man on his property

A 45-year-old project manager landed in the dock after threatening two men over his missing goats.

Brian Baguley, from Żebbuġ, was arraigned before Magistrate Ingrid Bianco and accused of causing Emmanuele Vassallo and Paul Gauci fear that violence would be used against them.

He was further charged with insulting and threatening them.

Last month, Baguley offered a €2,000 reward for the return of eight pet sheep and goats that were stolen from his farm in Ta'Qali.

Police inspector Italo Mizzi said that on February 20, a sergeant from Rabat police station informed him that Vassallo had filed a report after a man and woman used a private pathway near his farm in Tal-Virtù.

Vassallo approached the two individuals, and Baguley allegedly asked, “What do you want?” before pulling something out of his pocket and aiming it at him, saying, “I will empty this [allegedly a revolver] on you and Gauci” over some goats.

Vassallo claimed that the suspect had a revolver in hand. Mizzi took a declaration from Vassallo, who said the man aimed something at his face and that he did not know him.

Vassallo approached the police with new information three to four days later.

In the second declaration, Vassallo said he had been approached by a third party, who identified the suspect as Baguley, after he had posted about his missing goats on social media.

When he was shown the photo, Vassallo recognised the accused.

The case was investigated, and Baguley was arrested on Monday.

The alleged revolver was not found, but the police found a weapon which was registered in his name. The weapon was seized for safekeeping.

Baguley confirmed that he had gone to Rabat and spoken to Vassallo, but denied threatening him or having a weapon.

He told the police that he did not know the alleged victims, with Mizzi saying, “It is like someone sent him there”.

Before entering his plea, defence lawyer Rachel Tua asked to approach the bench.

The man then admitted to all the charges after being warned of the legal consequences of such an admission. In submissions on punishment, Tua highlighted that Gauci did not file any police reports, nor did he make any declarations. 

The lawyer argued that “there was a trend” of people claiming that a weapon had been pointed at them when, in fact, no weapon was used.

 However, in such cases, the aggressor’s reputation is tarnished.

The court asked the lawyer to confirm whether the man had made an unconditional guilty plea in view of the submissions, which the lawyer confirmed, adding that “admission was a procedural thing” and there was a possibility that the prosecution would object to bail.

She added that her client could not afford to remain in prison. She suggested that the man be handed a suspended jail term.

Mizzi countered that Vassallo was fearing for his life and did not want to leave the house, and the police sought to investigate the case and establish the truth.

Mizzi did not object to a suspended jail term, noting that all things considered, the man’s criminal record was a “normal” one.

The court found him guilty by his own admission, taking into account his criminal record and early guilty plea, and agreed that effective imprisonment was not suitable for the case; the man needs to desist from such behaviour.

The man was handed a two-year prison term suspended for three years, with the court warning him against committing an offence during the three-year period.

A three-year restraining order was issued in favour of both victims.

Magistrate Ingrid Bianco presided. Police inspector Italo Mizzi prosecuted. Lawyer Rachel Tua appeared for the accused.