Two men deny grievously injuring each other in fight next to police station
One of the men said he defended himself with a knife after the other man allegedly attacked him with a stone
Two men have denied grievously injuring each other in a fight that took place next to the Marsa police station, with one alleging he defended himself with a knife after being attacked with a stone.
Police inspector Elisia Scicluna explained that around 3am on Monday, Ibrahim Mohammed Jama, bleeding from his left hand and arm, went to the Marsa police station to report he had been attacked by a man wielding a large knife in the garden next door.
The police went on site and arrested the suspect, Mohammed Traofe, who told police that Jama attacked him first with a stone.
The pair had allegedly argued over shoes.
Jama’s injuries were certified as grievous, with the police inspector saying that the man sustained deep cuts in his fingers.
The injured man was arrested after the fight in light of Traofe’s accusations that he had attacked him with a stone. Both were arraigned Tuesday.
The first to be arraigned was Traofe, a 25-year-old Congolese national, who was accused of causing grievous injuries to Jama using a knife, breaching the public peace and carrying the knife in public without a licence.
Traofe, who claimed that he is self-employed and lives in Paola, pleaded not guilty.
He was remanded in custody. A protection order was issued in favour of Jama. Prosecutor Clive Aquilina informed the court that Jama was about to be arraigned and the protection order should be brought to the attention of the prison authorities since the two men may be placed in the same division and prison van.
Jama was arraigned afterwards. He appeared in court with his left arm bandaged.
The 23-year-old Somali national living in Ħal Far was accused of causing grievous injuries to Traofe, breaching the public peace, and carrying a knife in public without a licence.
He also pleaded not guilty.
Legal aid lawyer Sarah Vassallo Ciliberti requested bail for Jama. The prosecution objected on grounds he lacked ties to Malta and was unemployed. Prosecutor Clive Aquilina told the court he was also objecting due to the man's “character”.
“We should have progressed as a society and instead we have someone throwing rocks and another brandishing a knife,” Aquilina argued before the court interrupted him and pointed out “things that are also done by Gozitans and Maltese.”
The defence countered that the man is still presumed innocent until proven guilty.
After hearing the submissions, the court denied bail since the alleged victim, Traofe, and other bystanders had not yet testified, as well as the man’s lack of ties to Malta. He was remanded in custody.
A restraining order was issued against Jama in favour of Traofe.
Magistrate Jean Paul Grech presided.
AG lawyer Clive Aquilina prosecuted, assisted by police inspector Elisia Scicluna.
Legal aid lawyer Ingrid Zammit Young assisted Traofe.
Legal aid lawyer Sarah Vassallo Ciliberti assisted Jama.