Men charged with injuring policewomen at nightclub

A "bully" was yesterday charged with seriously injuring a policewoman at a party at Numero Uno on Saturday night while his friend pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring another female officer.

Renald Attard, 25, of Luqa allegedly hit WPC Roberta Garzia in the face after an argument ensued in the ladies' toilets between two women officers on one side and the men's girlfriends on the other.

Mr Attard's friend, Shawn Falzon, 27, of Floriana, who was also involved in the fight denied slightly injuring WPC Beverly Farrugia.

Police sources said that when WPC Garzia and WPC Farrugia stopped the men's girlfriends in the toilets for a routine drug search, an argument broke out.

The men went into the toilets, in an attempt to defend their girlfriends, and the argument turned violent.

In pleas on bail, Superintendent Norbert Ciappara told Magistrate Lawrence Quintano that the person he had before him (Mr Attard) was a "bully" who reacted violently to two women police officers when things did not go as he wanted them to.

Police Inspector Dennis Theuma said there were witnesses that still needed to be heard and Mr Attard had already been convicted of grievous bodily harm once before.

Defence lawyer David Gatt said the case that the inspector was referring to had taken place six years ago and that since the main witnesses were officers, there would be no tampering with evidence.

Magistrate Quintano remanded the accused in custody.