Refugee recounts knife attack

A Somali refugee yesterday told a court how he was stabbed by a man he knew by sight but had never spoken to before.

Aadani Adbi Hussein told Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima he was walking in Valletta, near the bus terminus, when a woman stopped him to ask for a cigarette but he did not have any. Then, suddenly, he looked behind him and saw a man approach him while holding a small knife.

The man, whom he identified as William Mercieca, stabbed him on the right side of his body and when he fell to the ground Mr Mercieca kicked him in the face.

Mr Hussein was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Mercieca who is charged with stabbing him in Floriana on May 11.

Mr Hussein said that his assailant took his mobile phone and a green diary.

He explained that he had seen the defendant before, when he been there, but they had never spoken or argued. He said he thought Mr Mercieca assaulted him because the woman had approached him to ask for a cigarette.

The case continues.