Youth guilty of causing grievous injuries

An 18-year-old female youth from Valletta was placed under a probation order after being found guilty of assaulting and grievously injuring another youth two years ago and then tampering with evidence. At the time of the offence the accused was 16 years old.

Prosecuting inspector James Grech told the court how on the fateful night of 11 May 2011, the accused and two others, all from Valletta had assaulted a girl from Zebbug. The aggressors were aged 14,15 and 16 years, while the victim was 15.

An argument started between the four girls after the victim allegedly teased the boyfriend of one of her aggressors. During the brawl which ensued the victim was stabbed with a knife and suffered a punctured lung. The police arraigned the three aggressors.

The 14-year-old who allegedly used the knife was charged with attempted murder while the other two were accused of attempting to cause very serious injuries and grievously injuring the victim. All three were also charged with disturbing public peace and good order, harassing, provoking and assaulting the victim.

The 16-year old alone was charged with tampering of evidence as she threw away the knife used in the stabbing. She pleaded guilty to the charges.

Having concluded the compilation of evidence against the three youths, Magistrate Doreen Clarke placed the youth, now aged 18 years, under a three year probation order. The other two youths are still awaiting judgement.

Inspector James Grech prosecuted and lawyers Veronique Dalli and Dean Hili appeared for the accused.