Waylon Johnston
Cuts girlfriend's finger to check if she was cheating
Hearing continues despite bomb scare
A Libyan man, convinced that his girlfriend was cheating on him, cut her finger with the lid of a can believing that if she bled it would mean she was in another relationship, a court heard yesterday in between hysterical outbursts from the accused.
In the event, the act sealed the fate of their relationship. The lovelorn man was found guilty of injuring the woman and was ordered not to speak to her for three years.
Zeiad Mohammed Abuzoda, 30, walked into the court room crying and shouting: "I'm Libyan, don't I have any human rights? Look, look what they did to me," he screamed as he tried to pull his shirt up.
Ordering him to be quiet and sit down, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona called the escorting officer over and, in a warning tone, told him that if he got to know he was mistreating people... to which the officer replied: "I can assure you, Your Honour."
As he stood in the dock, the accused became hysterical again and, with tears in his eyes, said: "I have a problem. I love her but she loves someone else."
The magistrate again told him to be quiet and the accused apologised, adding that he was acting in that manner because he was so nervous.
Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri told the court that on Thursday, Mr Abuzoda had cut the finger of his girlfriend, Krasimira Dimitrova, with the lid of a corned beef can because, according to the accused, if she bled it meant she was seeing another man.
In the argument that ensued between the couple, he threatened her with a knife and scratched her face, her left eye and her hands in her flat in St Paul's Bay, the officer said.
At this point, the magistrate asked his court usher to call in lawyer Joe Brincat so he could represent the accused. The usher eventually informed the magistrate that Dr Brincat was unable to enter into the building because of a bomb threat.
Magistrate Micallef Trigona insisted he would not move and would carry on with the sitting, adding that bomb threats had become far too common.
He asked Mr Abuzoda whether he wanted to plead guilty or not guilty and the accused said he never hurt his girlfriend and she never hurt him.
The magistrate held up a medical certificate and said the evidence proved otherwise. He told the accused that if he were to plead guilty he would receive a suspended jail term but if not the case would be put off and would take ages to be concluded.
Mr Abuzoda asked whether he would go home if he pleaded guilty, to which the police inspector said he could.
He decided to admit to the charges of threatening and seriously injuring the woman and was given an 18-month jail term suspended for two years. He was also fined €116.
The magistrate also placed the woman under a protection order for three years and ordered Mr Abuzoda not to speak to her throughout that period. At this point the man started to get hysterical again and the magistrate ordered him to get a grip on himself.
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jayne chetcuti
May 24th 2010, 22:16
and what if there really was a bomb?? you cant say that its a false alarm untill the bomb disposal unit are called in to check the building which should of been evacuated anyway and not left to carry on because the magistrate decided so!! that was a human right to leave that building instead of possibly being blown to bits!!
N. Bonello
May 24th 2010, 22:13
Looks like you don't need a good lawyer any more - just some acting lessons.
see also: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100522/local/court-shows-mercy-to-desperate-immigrant
Anthony Borg
May 22nd 2010, 15:30
"Please, please, can anyone explain to me what is happening in our Courts of Law?
A young first-time (offender?) posts a comment on Facebook to a group of people of like-mind (not in a public-forum- I did not read his comment until it WAS MADE PUBLIC in court). He is fined €500 and a suspended jail term.
A Libyan national cuts a finger of his girlfriend (bodily injury or harm are the worst in my book!), and he gets €116 fine and a suspended jail term!!!!
c. camilleri
May 22nd 2010, 15:16
These people should be made to understand that they are in Malta and not in their countries and should adhere to our laws.
They should be deported without delay.
Daniel Vella
May 22nd 2010, 15:03
U min jitfa' status fuq il-facebook jehel €500...
Neville Calleja
May 22nd 2010, 13:30
Mr Johnston, you're great. If you decide to write a novel, I'll be in the queue to buy it!
Karen Bugeja
May 22nd 2010, 13:30
This is absurd, nothing actually makes sense... if this man is so possessive of his ex-girlfriend, just telling him to not talk to her for 3 yrs won't do any good, so what... he can punch her face in without speaking and argue that he isn't breaking the law? ... Anyone can see that he has uncontrollable hysterical outbursts and needs help and treatment. My comment has nothing to do with the fact that he is Libyan, he could be any local Maltese and I would still feel the same way.
This man is a threat and a human being cannot be treated like a caged animal. A story like this never ends well if not dealt with properly.
Raymond Sammut
May 22nd 2010, 13:08
The Malta Courts appear to be getting more and more interesting by the day. Ask for your human rights, and you just get told squarely to go and get a grip of yourself instead. And the next thing you know there is a bomb threat. Maybe a little holiday will do -- cross-country skiing or something like that. It's a mad mad world.
Joanne Micallef
May 22nd 2010, 12:18
Mickey Mouse justice at its best.
This guy should have been ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation. If this guy has mental problems most probably the poor lady is anything but rid of him.
Adrian Gouder
May 22nd 2010, 11:24
He needs to understand the difference between love and possession, and he needs phychological assistance. This is one of those cases where things will end very badly and cost someone dearly... and we probably know who that will be.
Christian Sciberras
May 22nd 2010, 11:08
"The usher eventually informed the magistrate that Dr Brincat was unable to enter into the building because of a bomb threat."
What?!
And what was his Honor doing in the building then?
"and the magistrate ordered him to get a grip on himself."
Ha!
david debattista
May 22nd 2010, 12:50
What if it was the woman who wanted to find out if her man was seeing another woman ,
what would she have cut ? Let's hope it's not a man's best friend.
Anthony Falzon
May 22nd 2010, 11:06
What a joke.....admit that you are guilty and you will be free to go home, but what do we ordinary people know?
lgalea
May 22nd 2010, 10:27
Is he going to be expelled? What are stone-age mentality people like him doing in Malta?
David Gatt
May 22nd 2010, 10:09
Never a dull moment!
John Ebejer
May 22nd 2010, 10:08
The Maltese Court should be the representative of Maltese Justice in this country - it is representative of the values that we hold extremely dear. Therefore, the Maltese Court MUST send a clear message to one and all, that in this country, in this realm, in this republic, as well as in this continent that we call Europe, SOME THINGS ARE SIMPLY NOT DONE! NOT DONE! In other words, jekk il-Libjani iridu jigu jghixu fostna, merhba bihom imma jridu jgibu ruhhom ta' nies! Certainly, this man has a problem: he 'loves' her but she doesn't 'love' him back - it's his problem and he should live with it. He can get away with it in certain countries, but not in EUROPE! Not in Malta! And the Maltese courts have to be clear and adamant about this matter!
I am reading this further: the man has been given a suspended sentence!!!!!!! Wonders never cease in this country!