Brothers took revenge on cousin over ‘fatal drug dose’

Two brothers stabbed their cousin in the hands because they believed he had supplied their other brother with a fatal dose of drugs.

Giovanni Spiteri, 26, and Manuel Spiteri, 22, both of Cospicua, were yesterday put on probation for three years for the crime they carried out in March, 2006.

Johann Mifsud testified that as he got to the front door of his mother’s house in Cospicua, his cousin Manuel appeared out of nowhere and began hitting him. At that point his other cousin drove into the front garden, got out and joined the attack.

The court heard that he needed stitches to his hands but suffered no permanent injury except for a small scar.

In a statement, Manuel Spiteri had told police that he hit his cousin with a pointed metal bar but could not recall how many times.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera said there was no doubt that the accused were guilty of attacking their cousin because they believed he had supplied the fatal dose of drugs which led to their brother’s death.

In considering punishment, the magistrate said she took into consideration the testimony of a social worker and medical doctor as regards Giovanni. He now had a job and a family and worked hard to deal with his drug problems.

The magistrate said she did everything possible to help whoever had a serious drug problem provided she was convinced that the person in question was genuinely in pursuit of a drug-free life.

She placed them under probation for the maximum possible term of three years and placed Mr Mifsud under a protection order.

Manuel Spiteri was disqualified from driving for two years and fined €1,164 for driving without insurance cover.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Charmain Cherret were defence counsel.