Man damages three cars after 15-hour drinking binge

A prostitute’s rejection is understood to have been the trigger that tipped one Eritrean man over the edge at the end of a 15-hour drinking binge, sending him on a drunken rampage in Gzira last night.

Zebbug resident Beyee Fessahatsion Weldeabzghi was released on bail this morning after pleading guilty to damaging two cars and a motorcycle in Gzira. 

Weldeabzghi was arraigned before magistrate Doreen Clarke this morning. Inspector Lara Butters charged the man with three counts of criminal damage and public drunkenness. He was also charged with cannabis possession, after 0.4g of the drug was found in his possession after his arrest.

It is understood that the accused had been drinking since 11:00am until the time of his arrest, at 02:15am. The man is thought to have become enraged after the prostitute first took €35 and then refused his advances, venting it out on the parked vehicles. The woman’s identity was not revealed to the police.

Lawyer Patrick Valentino, legal aid to the accused, said Weldeabzghi wished to admit to the charges.

Weldeabzghi requested bail, which was granted on condition that he sign a bail book every day and give a personal guarantee of €1,000.

As no precise figure for the amount of damages caused was available, the court adjourned the case to 20 July to allow this amount to be  for sentencing purposes.