Five boys on assault charges

Five teenage boys were yesterday charged with seriously injuring a boy in Paceville on Saturday night.

Magistrate Dennis Montebello heard an 18-year-old, three 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old plead not guilty to assaulting and seriously injuring Alan Bonello at about 10.30 p.m.

The 16-year-old alone was also charged with breaching the conditions of a previous release as, the magistrate heard, he was under a probation order since October 2004. The magistrate heard a probation officer explain that she was surprised to learn that the boy had been charged in court as he was doing well.

The names are not being published to protect the minors' identities.

The magistrate granted the boys bail against a Lm500 deposit each. The 16-year-old was bound by a personal guarantee of Lm1,000 while the other four boys were bound by a guarantee of Lm500 each.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.

Lawyers Michael Sciriha, Ian Farrugia, Emmanuel Mallia, Giannella Caruana Curran, Peter Fenech and Patrick Galea appeared for the boys.