Court orders re-arrest of cyclist accused of attempted murder

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

Following a petty argument last Sunday, 22-year-old Daniel Briffa produced a pen knife and slashed his victim across the face nearly missing an artery, Police Inspector Elton Taliana said in court when Mr Briffa was arraigned.

He had first knocked a side mirror off the car of the man he later allegedly attacked, Nezar El Gadi, while riding his bicycle in an area known as Ta' Paris, Birkirkara, last Sunday at about 2 a.m., the court also heard.

Mr El Gadi, who was in a car belonging to his wife Margaret Mifsud, followed the accused down the road where a heated argument ensued.

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

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

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

However, appealing the decision, the Attorney General asked that either the bail conditions be made more stringent or that the accused be kept under preventive custody because of the seriousness of the case.

Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano upheld the request yesterday and ruled that the personal guarantee was not enough to stop Mr Briffa from tampering with the evidence, especially since there were four witnesses that still have to be heard.

The court then revoked the previous judgment and re-arrested Mr Briffa who is now under preventative custody.