Court revokes bail in cyclist attempted murder case

A cyclist who was granted bail on Tuesday after being charged with trying to kill a motorist was re-arrested today after a court upheld an appeal by the Attorney General.

Daniel Briffa, 22, allegedly knocked a side mirror off a car while riding his bicycle in the Ta’ Paris area in Birkirkara last Sunday at around 2 a.m.

Nezar El Gadi, who was in the car, followed the accused down the road and a heated argument ensued.

During the arraignment, Police Inspector Elton Taliana explained that Mr Briffa produced a pen knife and slashed the victim across the face, just missing an artery.

In requesting bail, the inspector asked the court to take into consideration that the victim lived only three streets away from the accused and there might be tampering with evidence.

However defence lawyer David Gatt said that his client was innocent until proven guilty and that there were sufficient guarantees to bind his client to the court's order.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona decided to grant Mr Briffa bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000.

Appealing the decision, the Attorney General requested that either the bail conditions be made more stringent or that the accused by kept under preventative custody because of the seriousness of the case.

Mr Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano in a ruling said that the personal guarantee was not enough to stop Mr Briffa from tampering with the evidence especially since there are four witnesses who still have to be heard.

The court therefore revoked the previous decision and ordered the re-arrested of Mr Briffa.