Man shot by police arraigned

A 26-year-old man, who was shot in the hip by police officers when allegedly caught trying to escape during a burglary, yesterday limped into court to answer to charges brought against him.

Kevin Gatt, of Ghaxaq, admitted to his involvement in stealing over Lm1,000 in cash from Sphynx Pastizzeria in Sta Venera, ramming a police car with a car he was driving and damaging both cars on Tuesday at about 3 a.m.

He pleaded not guilty to trying to kill PC Christopher De Brincat when he drove the car in his direction and to stealing Aaron Zammit's Honda Civic on October 19 and burgling Centro Casalinga, in Santa Venera, the night he allegedly stole the car, and to relapsing.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna heard Police Inspectors Michael Mallia and Mario Bonnici, prosecuting, explain how the police had been informed that a burglary was in progress at Sphynx Pastizzeria. When they arrived on the scene they found two men, in a Honda Civic, trying to escape.

Mr Gatt was at the wheel of the car and, when it was blocked by a police car, he rammed the police car with the vehicle he was driving. As he repeated this action he endangered the life of a police constable who, as a result, fired a shot through the windscreen and hit Mr Gatt in the hip.

Mr Gatt was arrested but the other man escaped. The accomplice was last night still on the run.

The accused was taken to hospital where he was operated upon and the bullet in his hip removed.

In the meantime, the prosecution added, the police learnt that the Honda had been stolen last month. The police have filed an application to carry out an analysis of Mr Gatt's mobile phone call history in an attempt to trace his accomplice.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio called on the magistrate to consider sending Mr Gatt to St Michael's Ward, which is an extension of prison at St Luke's Hospital.

In view of Mr Gatt's physical condition the magistrate upheld the request.