Folk singer fined for threatening rival

A folk singer yesterday admitted to threatening his rival with a 19.5 centimetre knife after the latter allegedly spread the word that he was no good as a singer.

At about 6 p.m. last Sunday, Mario Dimech, 39, went to a bar in Birkirkara, which the two men used to frequent, carrying the knife. This was after another għannej, Victor Pace, had allegedly started saying that Mr Dimech was not a good singer, police sources said.

Just as the proceedings got under way, defence lawyer Edward Gatt told the court that the police ought to stop arraigning people under arrest when the charges were only contraventions.

However, Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia explained that the police had arrived in the nick of time before the situation could escalate.

Mr Dimech admitted to threatening Mr Pace, harassing him, breaching the peace and being in possession of the knife.

During submissions on punishment, the inspector expressed his concern for the victim and asked that at the very least a protection order would be issued along with the punishment. Magistrate Anthony Vella fined Mr Dimech €500 and issued a protection order for Mr Pace.