Teenager on trial for murder of 23-year-old man

A teenage boy, standing trial for the murder of a 23-year-old man in Paceville two years ago, told police he had hit a man while brandishing a pen knife in self defence when he was caught up in a brawl, but never meant to injure anyone.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar and Inspector Christopher Pullicino explained that in a statement to police Glen Pullicino said that while he was trying to defend himself someone, whom he was not in a position to identify, handed him a pen knife, he grabbed it and started brandishing it.

"I did not even know where I was at the time. It all happened in a matter of minutes. I tried to get out of the crowd but was pulled back into the fight and that was when I waved the knife and hit the man," Pullicino's statement read.

AC Cassar and Inspector Pullicino were testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono in the trial by jury of Glen Pullicino, 17, of Zebbug.

Pullicino, who was 15 years old at the time of the commission of the crime, is pleading not guilty to the murder of 23-year-old Brian Tabone outside Bamboo Bar in Paceville on March 17, 2002, at about 5.45 p.m.

Inspector Pullicino said that on the day after the incident, the accused was asked to stay in his office while he waited to be questioned.

As he was waiting Pullicino told the inspector that he was scared. At that point the inspector cautioned the teenager who went on to explain that he had touched the penknife he had seen on a television news bulletin the night before.

The teenager first told the inspector he had snatched the knife from someone's hand to dispose of it but later said he was caught up in the fight, without a choice, when someone gave him a pen knife and he brandished it, hitting the man in the process.

During cross examination Inspector Pullicino said that the accused Pullicino did not know whom he had hit with the knife. Although the teenager said that someone had poked him in the eye and he could not see who there was around him, the fact that he had hit Tabone with the knife was not questioned.

AC Michael Cassar took the witness stand and explained that when asked if he wanted his parents present during questioning the teenager said he would rather not because he did not want to worry them.

AC Cassar then went on to read Pullicino's statement, in which he admitted his involvement. In the statement Pullicino explained that he never intended to kill or injure the man since he did not even know him. All he wanted to do was defend himself.

He explained that on the day of the incident he went to Bamboo Bar at about 3 p.m. where he met some boys from Zebbug whom he knew by sight. The Zebbug boys got into a fight inside the bar and the bouncers kicked them out.

Pullicino went outside to see what had happened when the owner of a Peugeot that was parked on the side of the bar ran outside, started shouting "who was the coward" and started hitting everyone in his sight.

Soon after a fight broke out between the man, who was accompanied by others, and the Zebbug boys, including Pullicino.

In the statement Pullicino explained that he was hit on the head and in the eye during the brawl. While he was trying to defend himself someone handed him a pen knife, he grabbed it, brandished it to defend himself and hit the man.

Pullicino explained he did not know whom he had hit. When he managed to get away he threw the pen knife on the ground, far away from the scene to ensure that no one would pick it up and use it in the fight. He ran up the road where he met his brother and went home.

That night he saw the news and learnt that a man had died during the brawl. He also saw the pen knife he had thrown on the news and got scared since he did not think that the fight would lead to a death.

The bill of indictment claims that on March 17, 2002, at about 5.45 p.m. Pullicino together with some friends went outside Bamboo Bar in Paceville and stood near a parked Peugeot in which there were children.

When the parents of the children noticed they got worried and went outside where a fight broke out between a certain Francis Farrugia and Tabone.

During the fight Pullicino, who was in the possession of a penknife, stabbed Tabone with the intent to kill him.

The trial continues this morning.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara is prosecuting.

Dr Giannella Caruana Curran, Dr Emanuel Mallia, Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr John Attard Montalto are appearing for Pullicino.