Paschalino Cefai, Mario Mifsud 'make peace' in front of magistrate

Repeat offender Paschalino Cefai and lawyer Mario Mifsud have “made peace” after a July argument in court led to charges being filed against the two men.

Standing side-by-side to face accusations of threats and breaching public order, Cefai and Mifsud were seen happily chatting away and patting each other on the back.

Both men confirmed to a court on Tuesday that they have “made peace” after a courtroom incident in July which allegedly saw them insult and threaten each other.

After Cefai and Mifsud renounced the claims they made during the sitting, the most serious charge of threats and insults were dropped. The charge of breaching the peace still stands.

Cefai also renounced claims that magistrate Joe Mifsud, the lawyer’s brother, had smuggled whisky into prison for him.

Lawyer Lennox Vella, representing the magistrate, said his client accepted Cefai’s apology whilst condemning attacks on the judiciary.

A string of nine witnesses was then called to testify about the “commotion” that took place during the July sitting about a traffic incident, in which Cefai was the accused and Mario Mifsud appeared as lawyer for the victim.  

The witnesses largely confirmed that the sitting got out of hand after Cefai first mentioned Mifsud’s brother.

Magistrate Simone Grech, who presided over the sitting in question, testified that matters “started to escalate” after Cefai mentioned Joe Mifsud.

Cefai claimed the magistrate took a bottle of whisky into the Corradino Correctional Facility (CCF) and drank it with him.

Alex Dalli, who headed CCF when Cefai was imprisoned there, said Mifsud always went through security checks when visiting the prison and was never found with alcohol on him.

Dalli described Cefai as being “a handful” but said he always had a good relationship with him.

The case continues on September 25 when two final witnesses to the courtroom “commotion” will be held.

Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided.