Clerk denies attempted murder charge

A 22-year-old bank clerk was placed under house arrest today after he pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a man in St Julian’s on Sunday evening.

Simon Rhys Mansfield from Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq pleaded not guilty to hitting Clinton Busuttil on the head with a wheel wrench, driving dangerously and without a licence and breaching the public peace.

Defence lawyer Michael Scriha told the court that Mr Rhys Mansfield had acted in self-defence.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani placed Mr Rhys Mansfield under house arrest against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €8,000.

Comments

Christopher Zahra (on 16/10/08)

Where does the reporter state that his occupation has to do with the current crisis? It is just a COINCIDENCE people. If it were a nun or an astronaut like the two previous experts on journalism wished for, they would have said "A 22-year-old nun..." or "A 22-year-old Astronaut..." etc etc... My goodness. Typical 19th century Maltese mentality at its peak in here...

Oliver Abela (on 15/10/08)

His profession was mentioned to distinguish him from a thug because it counts, in a self defence crime.

Alexander Laurence (on 15/10/08)

I know the economy of the country is heading downwards..but this is ridiculous! Why did it have to be mentioned that he is a bank clerk...could have been a nun for all I care!

M Attard (on 14/10/08)

Whilst in no way going in the merit of the case, why did the journalist have to mention that accussed was a Bank clerk, he could have been an astronaut for all we care! The subject of the article is the charges against this person and not his profession, since the incident did not occur at his workplace.