Taxi driver who smashed windscreen with brick slapped with community work
Back in April, Roderick Bonnici smashed a person's windscreen with a brick
A 38-year-old man has been ordered to complete 60 hours of community work after admitting to smashing a van’s windscreen with a brick in Mellieħa.
Roderick Bonnici from Qormi was accused of wilfully damaging a car and breaching the public peace and recidivism.
He was also accused of causing a couple to fear violence would be used against them.
The man pleaded guilty to the charges on April 13 when he was arraigned. The case dates back to April 7, when the accused, a taxi driver, stopped his vehicle near that of the victim.
He got out and threw a brick at the victim’s car, smashing its windscreen. The incident was caught on CCTV footage.
The court heard how the accused had paid a deposit on a new windscreen while the victim took it upon himself to order and replace it.
In its considerations, the court observed that Bonnici immediately admitted to the offences he was accused of and obliged to pay for the damages.
Moreover, he proceeded to order the windscreen and pay the deposit.
In this case, the court did not order Bonnici to foot the bill incurred by the victim when the latter unilaterally decided to order the windscreen.
Bonnici was ordered to pay €300 for the windscreen ordered via a third party, and €363 to the victim after the court held that in the name of justice and fairness, the accused should not be made to cover the expenses incurred by the victim when he unilaterally decided to fix the windscreen.
He was ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid community work. A one-year restraining order was issued in favour of the victim.
Magistrate Leonard Caruana presided. Police inspector Italo Mizzi prosecuted while lawyer Matthew Xuereb appeared for the accused.