Man handed suspended sentence after brandishing weapon at man in garage fight

A man involved in a garage fight was handed a suspended sentence after admitting to carrying a weapon in public without a licence and causing another man fear that violence would be used against him.

Police inspector Kurt Farrugia explained that on Friday last week,  the police received a call from a third party about a man who claimed he had been assaulted and had a weapon pointed at him.

When the officers arrived at the scene, James Manfrè, who was arraigned on Sunday, showed them the Tarxien garage that was the scene of the fight. The police forced open the door and found Jason Mallia – the accused – bleeding.

Mallia, 52, told the police Manfrè had assaulted him and caused him the injuries. Mallia was treated for his injuries and arrested Monday, after Manfrè’s lawyer told a court Sunday that Mallia had pointed a weapon at her client.

While the weapon allegedly used in the altercation was originally not found, the police inspector said it was later recovered when it was established that it could only fire blanks.

Mallia, who is from Santa Venera, admitted the charges.

The court warned him of the consequences of such a guilty plea. 

The man was found guilty by his own admission and was handed a one-year prison term, suspended for two years.

The court issued a three-year restraining order in favour of Manfrè. Mallia was also prohibited from obtaining a weapon’s licence for three years.

Magistrate Jean Paul Grech presided over the court.

Police inspector Kurt Farrugia prosecuted.

Lawyer Silvan Pulis appeared for the accused.