Marsa man cleared of attempted murder

Christopher Kokavessis yesterday walked out of court a free man after jurors in his trial unanimously found him not guilty of attempted murder.

After three-and-a-half hours of deliberation jurors found Kokavessis not guilty of the attempted murder of Paul Zammit at White Stars Bar, Marsa, on Christmas eve 1999 because, their verdict read, although Kokavessis had seriously injured Zammit he had acted in self defence.

They also unanimously acquitted him of the possession of cannabis resin.

When the verdict was read out Kokavessis, let out a sigh and hugged his defence team - Dr Jason Azzopardi and Dr Kris Busietta.

He held his face in his hands and later removed them to reveal a smile, that transformed into laughter and cries of joy when he walked out of the dock and out of the court room, to be greeted by friends and family.

The verdict indicated that jurors believed Kokavessis' version of the events, that Zammit, Darren Debono, Joseph Grech, Kevin Sammut and Franco Fava beat him "mercilessly" because Zammit thought he was bothering his wife.

During his testimony Kokavessis said he had hit Zammit with a knife when he was waving it about to defend himself from the men.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, who presided the trial, ordered that a copy of the court documents be sent to the Police Commissioner to possibly investigate George Mercieca over the possession of the cannabis resin on and before December, 1999. (Mercieca had testified that the drug belonged to him.)

The judge also ruled that he had reason to believe that Debono had not said the whole truth when he was under oath and requested police to investigate him for perjury and take the necessary legal action against him.

Mr Justice Galea Debono then moved on to declare Kokavessis not guilty of the charges brought against him.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Dr Mark Said prosecuted.