Man refuses to testify against his brother

A man declared in court yesterday he would not testify against his brother, charged with attempting to seriously injure him in a fight last Saturday.

Claudio Cassar, 24, of Ħamrun is pleading not guilty. He is also pleading not guilty to provoking his brother and relapsing and to slightly injuring him.

Antonio Cassar told Magistrate Anthony Vella he did not want to get involved in the case. "I forgive him and I don't want to testify against him."

Police Inspector Joseph Agius, prosecuting, did not object to a request for bail as long as the two men were kept apart. "I just don't want him to go next to his brother as this (the fight) is not the first one."

However, defence counsel Giannella Caruana Curran pointed out that her client had moved out of the family house in Ħamrun, where the brother lived, and went to live with his sister in Senglea.

Before deciding whether to grant bail, Magistrate Vella asked whether he should issue a protection order in favour of Antonio Cassar. Dr Caruana Curran said there was no need for this and drew attention to the presence in court of both their mother and the former school teacher of the accused.

"You will not fight, will you? Not even over football," Magistrate Vella asked. Both brothers said they would not.

The accused was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio was also defence counsel.