Two youths charged with attempted murder

Two young men were yesterday charged with attempted murder, one of them as accomplice.

Emanuel Ciappara, 22, of Qrendi, and a 17-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to trying to kill Osama Shalabi, a worker at Ciappara's father's chicken processing factory.

The two were also charged with holding Shalabi against his will and threatening to kill him. Ciappara was charged with allowing the minor to drive a car while the minor was charged with driving a car without a licence and insurance cover.

Meanwhile, Ciappara's father and brother, Carmel, 46, and Angel, 20, were charged with seriously injuring Shalabi during the incident in Siggiewi on Tuesday at about 6.30 p.m.

Emanuel and Angel Ciappara were also charged with keeping and carrying a knife without a licence and its possession at the time of the commission of a crime and Angel Ciappara was charged with committing a crime during the operative term of a suspended sentence.

The father was charged with assaulting Shalabi, throwing stones at him or threatening him with hard objects.

After the charges were read out, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how Shalabi had allegedly run over one of the brothers and this triggered off an argument.

The four were granted bail on condition they do not leave their house except to go to work.

Carmel and Angel Ciappara were bound with a Lm1,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm5,000.

Emanuel Ciappara was bound by a Lm2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm8,000 while the boy was bound by a Lm500 deposit and a personal guarantee of Lm8,000.

The case continues.