Balzan fight victim arraigned

A man, who suffered serious injuries during a fight in Balzan on Tuesday, was yesterday charged with the attempted murder of two of his alleged attackers.

Raymond Farrugia, 42, of Balzan pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Kolya Bugeja and Etienne Bartolo, both from Birkirkara. Mr Farrugia also pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring the men with a knife, breaching public peace and relapsing.

On Wednesday, Mr Bartolo and Mr Bugeja, together with Mr Bugeja's brother Keith, Joseph Muscat, Gaetano Schembri and a 17-year-old girl, pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring Mr Farrugia with a pointed instrument.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke yesterday heard Mr Farrugia's lawyer, Mark Busuttil, submit that his client had been seriously injured in a fight over a counterfeit $100 note. He argued that the six persons who had been charged with seriously injuring his client the day before had been granted bail, adding that he saw no reason why his client should not be given bail.

Magistrate Clarke granted Mr Farrugia bail against a personal guarantee of €3,000 (Lm1,287.55). Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.