Ghanaian handed suspended jail sentence after fight with bouncer

23-year-old Ghanaian Joseph Boatimah was this morning sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for three years after pleading guilty to seriously injuring a bouncer during the early hours of Monday morning.

The court heard that on Monday, at around 3.15am, the accused tried to enter a club in Paceville.

He was asked to present his ID card. When this was not forthcoming, the bouncer, Daniel Anthony Lyth, refused entry. The accused, however, tried to enter into the club anyway.  

Subsequently, a fight ensued between the 23-year-old and the bouncer, the latter ending up grievously injured in the fight.

Prosecuting inspector Elton Taliana charged the accused with seriously injuring Daniel Anthony Lyth, of disobeying and threatening police officers Claudio Coppola and Nathan Bugeja, and of breaching public peace.

The accused admitted to all charges.

Taking into account his early admission, Magistrate Charmaine Galea, sentenced the Ghanaian man to 12 months jails suspended for three years and fined him €850.

Lawyer Patrick Valentino was defence counsel. Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted.