Brothers cleared

Two brothers have been cleared of seriously injuring a Turkish sailor during a fight after a magistrate ruled that, in light of various conflicting versions, the charges had not been sufficiently proven.

Oliver Demicoli and his brother Shaun had been charged with seriously injuring Ahmed Mangirci in a fight that broke out in a Birzebbuga bar on March 2, 2002. Oliver Demicoli had also been charged with the illegal possession of a knife.

After hearing evidence by the accused, the victim and other people present on the night of the incident, Magistrate Abigail Lofaro was faced with four different versions of the events.

In light of this conflicting evidence the magistrate cleared both men of all charges brought against them. She however found Oliver Demicoli guilty of the possession of a knife after hearing that the police had found several knives at his house during a search. For this she fined him Lm100 and ordered the confiscation of the weapons.

Police Inspectors Jeffrey Cilia and Joseph Agius prosecuted.