Bouncer 'punched drunk immigrant'

A French student yesterday testified that a bouncer who stands charged with seriously injuring an immigrant punched the victim when he tried to enter the club drunk.

Ramon Moyon, 19, who has been on holiday in Malta for the past month, recognised the 29-year-old security guard, Duncan Deguara, as the man who delivered a heavy blow to the victim on Friday, May 29 at around 3.30 a.m.

Suleiman Abubaker, from Sudan, sustained a fractured skull and is still in hospital in critical condition.

Mr Deguara is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Mr Abubaker and committing a crime which he was duty bound to prevent.

Mr Moyon said that on the night of the incident he had met Mr Abubaker at Plush club in Paceville and, accompanied by a French friend, they walked down to Footloose bar.

Mr Abubaker, who was drunk, was stopped at the entrance. The student said Mr Deguara landed a punch that threw the victim to the ground. After he was helped up, Mr Abubaker stumbled down the road and hung onto a sign post only to be kicked by an unknown person.

Police Inspector Martin Sammut testified that the victim was initially in danger of losing his life. After his condition stabilised he let the bouncer out on police bail, adding that the victim was still in a critical condition.

During submissions on bail, defence lawyer José Herrera argued that his client should be granted bail as he had a clean police record.

The inspector countered that bail ought to be denied because of the seriousness of the charges.

Magistrate Lawrence Quintano decided to grant the accused bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 and a deposit of €5,000.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli also appeared for the man.