Restaurant owners attacked restaurateur neighbour over parking sign, court hears

A restaurant owner has told a court how he was assaulted by the owner of the next-door restaurant and his son, after he removed a no-parking sign blocking the entrance to his establishment.

The man, “EF”, was testifying in criminal proceedings against a 41-year-old man, “AB” — a construction company and restaurant owner — and his 16-year-old son, “CD”, who stand accused of causing him grievous injuries.

EF told the court that initially, the relationship between the two restaurant owners was “good”. However, it quickly turned sour when AB allegedly started putting his tables and chairs outside EF’s restaurant.

On the day of the incident, the alleged victim went to leave some items at the shop and pay a supplier when he noticed a “no parking sign” placed in a concrete bucket just outside one of the entrances to the restaurant. The man removed it from the entrance but kept it outside his outlet.

AB allegedly told him that the permit for a skip was requested by one of their neighbours, whose property is undergoing renovation. EF asked the property owner if he was aware of anything, to which he replied that he was not.

When he came to leave his shop, he found the sign again at the entrance and removed it once again, at which point AB stood up and allegedly said: “You don’t remove that [the sign] from there” and assaulted him.

EF explained that one of AB’s employees also joined the fray, and later the man's son.

“I tried to defend myself, but they pushed me to the ground, and over the tables,” the alleged victim recalled.

At one point, he was pushed onto a table that toppled over.

EF’s lawyer, Arthur Azzopardi, then showed him a set of photos which were screenshots from the security cameras installed at the alleged victim’s restaurant. The man identified the individuals in the photos.

The injured man’s partner drove him to the health centre, but they sent him to the Accident and Emergency department at Mater Dei Hospital. After promising the healthcare staff that he would not drive, the alleged victim ordered a cab because the ambulance took too long.

Doctors found that he had some internal bleeding, a nasal fracture and had been punched in both eyes.

The man was released from hospital two days later.

Following that incident, the alleged victim is still experiencing cloudy vision in his right eye and has trouble lifting heavy things, the court heard.

The CCTV footage was then played in court.

Two days after the incident, the alleged victim filed a report against his fellow restaurant owner after they moved his tables and chairs, as well as planters.

The man also testified about a phone call he received from a third party whose sister is married to EF’s brother.

The third party urged him “to meet and sort things out, so that they can all make some money”. The third party spends time at the alleged aggressor’s business.

On Thursday, police inspector James Mallia also took the stand, explaining that the father and son went to lodge a report on the day of the incident at Qormi Police Station, claiming that they had been assaulted by EF.

Mallia explained how the case was investigated, and arrests were carried out.

AB and CD, both from Żebbuġ, are also accused of being involved in an accidental affray that caused EF grievous injuries, assaulting the man as well as threatening and insulting him.

The two also face charges of fabricating evidence and simulating an offence.

They are further accused of being accomplices to hindering a person from giving necessary information or evidence, as well as suppressing or altering traces of a crime.

They deny all charges.

Magistrate Kevan Azzopardi presided.

AG lawyer Valentina Cassar prosecuted, assisted by police inspector James Mallia.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Alfred Abela, Mario Mifsud and Rene Darmanin appeared for the accused.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi and Clive Gerada appeared as parte civile.