Driver recounts road attack

A labourer attacked a motorist who rebuked him for blocking a Sliema road with his truck and tried to poke him in the eye in a fit of anger, the Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

"I came across Carmelo Abela unloading goods from a truck parked in the middle of the road and I called him a selfish man for blocking the road with complete disregard for commuters," David Franks told Magistrate Miriam Hayman.

"He got very angry and walked up to the window on the passenger's side. I thought he just wanted to speak to me but he reached into my car, tightened my tie and tried to poke me in the eye," Franks said.

He testified in the compilation of evidence against Abela, 43, of Msida, who is pleading not guilty to assaulting him and damaging his car, breaching the peace and uttering obscene words in public on May 2, 2002.

Franks explained that he spoke to Abela after the latter's colleague drove the truck out of the way and left Abela to unload the stock.

After being assaulted a first time, the witness said, he tried to get out of his car but Abela kicked the door shut.

Franks then parked his car further down the road, phoned the police from his mobile phone and waited there while Abela continued with the unloading. But some time later Abela went near his car and head-butted him, causing his spectacles to dig into his nose.

By the time the police arrived on the scene, Abela had left, Franks said.