Arraigned over Hamrun fight

A man who allegedly caused "extensive damage" to two cars, was "very uncooperative" with the police and relapsed was yesterday granted bail against a deposit of €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000.

Sylvester James, 22, had caused under €1,164 damage to a Seat Toledo and a Honda Civic during a fight in Hamrun at about 4 p.m. on Monday, Police Inspector Joseph Agius said in court yesterday.

He also allegedly slightly injured a woman during the incident.

Defence lawyer José Herrera said his client was at home with his family when, all of the sudden, the front door was kicked open and a group of men went straight for his client and beat him up. Mr James defended himself, the legal counsel said.

Mr Agius said the accused is well known to the police in Hamrun especially because of his involvement in fights in the area.

The prosecution asked the court to deny bail arguing that he had relapsed and that there were witnesses still to be heard, an argument the defence counsel rejected on the basis that it was an unfounded fear because the witnesses were the aggressors.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli granted bail to Mr James.