Policeman cleared of injuring woman

A police constable was yesterday cleared of seriously injuring a woman and damaging her car after a magistrate ruled that the charges had not been proven.

Magistrate Abigail Lofaro cleared PC Joseph Fava of seriously injuring his partner, Mary Carmen Grech, and damaging her car in September, 1999.

The magistrate heard Grech explain that she met up with Fava while he was on fixed-point duty outside Castille, in Valletta, and when she told him she was going out alone that evening he hit her in the face.

But Fava denied this and said that Grech had hit him behind his ear with a key following an argument.

After evaluating the evidence Magistrate Lofaro ruled that the charges had not been proven as no one had seen Fava hit Grech. Neither had it been proven that he had caused the damage to her car.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.

Dr José Herrera appeared for Fava.