Alleged assailant refused bail

A 41-year old man from Cospicua was yesterday remanded in custody after being charged with assaulting and stabbing Rhys Fiteni at Senglea at about 2 a.m. on Sunday.

Senior Inspector Anthony Cassar also accused Christopher Galdes of trying to run over Mr Fiteni and Clayton Ghirxi last April and of threatening them with a pistol.

He was further charged with carrying a pistol and a knife without a licence, driving in a reckless manner, uttering obscene language and breaching the public peace.

Inspector Cassar said Mr Fiteni had worked for the accused for some three years but the two had fallen out.

The police opposed bail being granted at this stage because Sunday's stabbing was one in a string of incidents that could have had more serious consequences, Inspector Cassar said.

He said the accused had already bit the victim on another occasion. Mr Galdes was also facing charges of trying to run over Mr Fiteni and another person. When he failed, he brandished a pistol and was about to load it but Mr Fiteni punched him and the magazine fell from the hands of the accused, Inspector Cassar said.

The inspector argued that Mr Fiteni was still in hospital after the stabbing as the knife had practically penetrated his arm and there was a grave danger that evidence would be tampered with if the accused were granted bail.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna, denied bail.

Lawyer Kris Busietta appeared for the accused.