Albert Town barman used firearm in public, acquitted of injuring asylum seeker

The owner of the New Tiger bar in Marsa - Raymond Magri, 54 and his son Deniro, 24 - were found guilty of using firearms in public but acquitted of injuring Eritrean asylum seeker Asero Belayterlit in Marsa.

The court heard how on February 9, 2007 at around 4:30am Eritrean nationals were involved in an argument with the accused regarding some Maltese women. Two of the Eritreans were ordered to leave the bar but returned some moments later with co-nationals, ostensibly from the Marsa open centre adjacent to the bar, armed with sticks and stones.

The Eritrean group started breaking glasses and parts of the bar and threatening the accused.

It was at this instant that the accused fired 15 shots from two handguns. Nine shots were fired by one gun and six by the other. Of these, five shots hit the ceiling,  one hit the wall behind the bar and the rest were shot outside. During the shooting a bullet hit AseroBelayterlit in his right leg causing him slit injuries. One of the accused, Raymond Magri also suffered slight injuries to his hands.

The court held that it was not proven if somebody had shot at the Eritrean of if he was accidentally hit particularly as he had chosen not to testify in court.

The Magistrate also stated that the prosecution  did not prove who was the person who had shot the Eritrean and that the accused had fired their weapons only in self-defence and to protect the property. While it was clear that firearms were used and that the accused did not posses any license to own, carry and use firearms, no handguns were found in the area, the court said.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi acquitted Deniro Magri from causing injuries to the Eritrean but fined him €500 for keeping an unlicensed firearm and firing same weapon in public. His father, Raymond Magri was also found guilty of the same charges and relapsing. He was fined €700.

Both the accused were also ordered to pay together the sum of €2789.38 in court expenses.