Arraigned over Hamrun feast brawl

A 23-year-old man was yesterday arraigned under arrest and charged with inciting others to break the law during the feast of St Cajetan in Hamrun on Sunday.

Sandro Spiteri, of Hamrun, pleaded not guilty to threatening and disobeying the police, breaching the peace and inciting others to commit a crime.

Magistrate Anthony Vella heard how Mr Spiteri was arraigned under arrest because the police could not track him down following a brawl that broke out during the feast celebrations.

Seven men had been summoned to appear in court to answer to charges over the same case and others were still to be summoned. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud explained that the police had not found his client at his Hamrun home because he usually moves to a summer residence in Bugibba. His client, he said, was not trying to escape the police. In fact, as soon as his parents informed him the police were looking for him he went to the police station himself.

Magistrate Vella granted Mr Spiteri bail on condition he signed at the Hamrun police station twice weekly. He did not impose a bail bond and ordered that the case be dealt with in the Hamrun district sitting.

Police Inspector Mario Tonna prosecuted.