Drunk aggressor jailed for a month

A Somali minor, residing in Gzira, was jailed for a month after being found guilty of slightly injuring a woman, being drunk in public and breaching public order.

Victim Sonya Gatt recounted how in the early hours of 27 October she was alone in her internet cafe at Ponsonby Street, Gzira. "I was there doing some personal things, the shop was closed, and lights switched off," she said.

"However at around 2am, a youth who seemed drunk banged on the shop's glass door demanding beer and a cigarette lighter."

Gatt explained to the youth the shop was closed, however he reacted by continuously slamming his hands against the glass.

Fearing problems with her neighbours, and also that the glass could break she opened the door to reiterate the shop was closed.

"At that moment he slapped me across the face and called me a whore," the emotional victim said.  The witness also recalled how an unknown passer by pulled the youth away from the door giving her time to close the door.

She then called the police and decided to follow the aggressor down the road until the officers arrived.

Taking the witness stand, the accused could not recall anything from that night in October. However he remembered starting drinking vodka in Paceville and consuming three bottles of the drink. He had no recollection of going to the shop, assaulting the woman and being arrested. "I do not know how I ended in Gzira and subsequently at the police station', he told the court.

Prosecuting Inspector Jonathan Ransley explained how officers arrested the Somali youth in Gzira following claims he assaulted a woman. In his statement to the police, the minor had told the inspector he had drunk three bottles of vodka and could not remember anything.

The youth arrived in Malta nine months ago and had never consumed alcohol before his arrival. While being currently unemployed the youth is given sporadic jobs to clean and paint houses.

Legal aid lawyer, Joseph Ellis argued the incident was provoked by the victim herself. "Seeing him drunk and in an agitated state, she still chose to open the door and face him," the lawyer said. Ellis held the minor is estranged from his country and has found himself at liberty to drink alcohol.

"He had no criminal intent to commit the offence, in fact he was so drunk he recalls nothing of that night", the defence claimed.

Magistrate Carol Peralta voiced his admiration towards the victim's courage to open the shop's door rather than face her neighbours. "Further more you were courageous enough to follow your aggressor after he assaulted you," the Magistrate said. The court stated that public safety is paramount and being drunk does not excuse an assault. "People should drink in a rational and responsible way and not become a menace to society", the Magistrate concluded.