Man spent two days in coma following assault outside nightclub, court hears

A man who was injured after being assaulted by two men had two epileptic fits in quick succession following the incident and spent two days in a coma, a medico-legal expert informally told the court on Tuesday afternoon.

Medico-legal expert Mario Scerri informed the court of his findings via videoconference in criminal proceedings against 22-year-old Manjot Singh, who holds Portuguese nationality, and Harveer Singh Bains, 21, a UK national.

The two men are accused of having grievously injured another man on September 7 outside Numero Uno in Ta’ Qali. They were further charged with insulting and threatening the alleged victim.

The men deny the charges.

Police at the Birkirkara station were informed about a fight outside the nightclub at 4am. Once on the scene, the police spotted the victim receiving medical assistance outside. Two witnesses, the brother of the alleged victim and a friend, identified the aggressors, who were arrested half an hour later.

The alleged victim spent two days in a coma and was in critical condition, Mallia told the court.

The brother and friend told the police that the victim was kicked in the head and punched while lying on the ground. 

The alleged victim told the police that he recalled going to the popular club at 1 am. He could not recall what happened after he left the club. He also told the police he knew the suspects from before and had argued with Manjot Singh over a girlfriend.

Victim suffered from two seizures

On Tuesday afternoon, police inspector Joseph Mallia informed the court that the inquiring magistrate authorised communication with the experts appointed in the inquest. The court then addressed Scerri informing him that he was not testifying under oath but giving information related to the case.

Scerri examined the alleged victim twice: once while he was still intubated and receiving medical care in the intensive care unit and a second time.

The victim suffered from head injuries and had a fractured right temporal bone and an underlying hematoma. The alleged victim had a seizure while being transferred from Ta’ Qali to Mater Dei hospital and a second seizure in hospital, which Scerri said were a result of the bleeding and the trauma.

The man was eventually discharged from the hospital. However, he was prescribed epileptic drugs for an indefinite period since he may have other seizures.

Scerri explained that the skull fracture was classified as a grievous bodily harm, but the man needs care and cannot drive during this period. The medico-legal expert would need to re-examine the alleged victim in a year’s time. The injuries were therefore classified as grievous.

The expert clarified that had there been no seizures following the assault, the grievous injuries would not be of a permanent nature.

Girlfriend refused to speak to police

Defence lawyer Franco Debono suggested that the alleged victim suffered from epileptic fits before the incident; however, the expert said that he had no such documentation in hand. The alleged victim is not a resident in Malta, and there are no medical records before his hospitalisation.

The alleged victim has since returned to the UK.

Under cross-examination by lawyer Adreana Zammit it emerged that the girlfriend of one of the accused refused to speak with the police.

On Monday, a police sergeant who went onsite testified that when the officers arrived at Numero Uno, they were informed that the alleged victim suffered a seizure that lasted from one to one and a half minutes. It also emerged that of the aggressors was held by the security of the club.

After the pair were arrested and taken to Birkirkara police station, the police noticed that Manjot Singh’s shoes were stained with a red pigment thought to be blood. The shoes were seized as evidence.

A female sergeant told the court that the alleged victim was not making sense of what he was saying when the officers arrived at the scene. The brother of the alleged victim allegedly told the sergeant that when they asked the aggressors why they were attacking the man one of them reportedly said “If my friend punches, I would punch too.”

Magistrate Gabriella Vella is presiding over the case.

AG lawyer Martina Muscat prosecuted assisted by police inspector Joseph Mallia.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Adreana Zammit appeared for the accused.