Two deny assaulting police at Birzebbugia wedding

Two men have denied assaulting police officers and knocking one officer out cold at a wedding in Birzebbugia.

57-year-old Carmelo Zammit and his son Bernard, 30, both from Tarxien, were arraigned under arrest before magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera this morning.

Inspector Charlotte Curmi told the court that two police officers, a sergeant and a constable, had been detailed to a wedding held at Villa Blanche in Birzebbugia on Saturday night. At around 1.00am on Sunday, the officers had intervened in a violent argument that had erupted between Bernard and his brother. Whilst the sergeant was pulling the men apart, Bernard had punched the officer and knocked him out. Seeing what had happened, Carmelo Zammit had attacked the other officer.

Bernard Zammit was accused of threatening two police officers, slightly injuring the sergeant, damaging his glasses and being drunk and disorderly in a public place. This behaviour was not tolerable, the police inspector said.

Carmelo Zammit was charged with attacking the police constable during the course of the policeman's duties, disobeying a legitimate order or preventing a public officer from carrying out his duties. He was also charged with being a recidivist.

Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace entered a plea of not guilty and requested bail, pointing out that there are no civilian witnesses to the incident who were yet to testify. “They were at a wedding and something got out of hand, but this will be dealt with by another court,” the lawyer said.

Bail was granted on condition the men sign a bail book twice a week, deposit their passport and ID cards in court, together with a deposit of €500. The men were ordered to provide a personal guarantee of €2,000 and prohibited from approaching any prosecution witnesses.