Policeman shot in hand during struggle, court told

A policeman trying to arrest a suspect was shot in the hand when his gun went off as he struggled with the man who had just aimed pepper spray at his eyes, a court heard yesterday.

When the gun went off, half-blinded he turned and shot in the suspect's direction.

Not knowing where exactly he had hit him, he then called for back-up and his colleague fired again and hit the suspect.

The policeman, whose name cannot be published by court order, testified before Magistrate Miriam Hayman in the compilation of evidence against Generoso Sammut, 49, of Siggiewi.

Sammut is pleading not guilty to trying to kill a policeman and seriously injuring him in Qawra on February 24 at about 4 a.m.

He is also charged with assaulting and threatening him and PC Kevin Curmi, disobeying police and trying to bribe PC Curmi.

Sammut is also charged with a restaurant burglary, forgery, traffic offences and firearm possession.

The injured policeman yesterday told the court how he and his colleague were informed that a suspicious car had been spotted near Ta' Fra Ben and this after a restaurant had been robbed in the area.

They were in plain clothes and the policeman said he held his gun in his hand because it was dark.

They found Sammut standing outside his car and identified themselves as policemen. But Sammut dived into his car.

"I feared that he was going to get a weapon so I threw myself onto him to stop him. He kept on reaching for something and then aimed pepper spray at my eyes.

"Sammut then tried to take my gun but I did not want to let go and we both tugged at it. Then it fired into my hand and after some time I managed to turn it onto him and fire a shot in his direction," he said.

The sergeant explained how at the time he was in pain and could not see properly because of the pepper spray so he did not know where he had hit Sammut.

He said that he feared he would lose grip of the gun so he told his colleague to shoot Sammut, which he did immediately.

Sammut fell to the ground, growled in pain and told them to kill him, the policeman said.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Bartolo and Pio Pisani are prosecuting.

Dr Michael Sciriha, Dr Ian Farrugia and Dr Philip Galea Farrugia are appearing for Sammut.