A man who was stabbed when he tried to break up a fight in Balzan seven years ago told a court today that he had initially told a doctor that he had fallen on glass because he did not want to get the accused into trouble.
The evidence was given by Raymond Farrugia during the trial by jury of Marco Vella, 42, of Birkirkara, who is accused of attempted murder.
The incident happened near Balzan Square in August 2003.
Vella had allegedly been involved in an argument with another man, Stephen Falzon, over free drinks. A fight developed and as Raymond Farrugia, now 42, intervened to try to separate the men, he was stabbed,
His life was saved thanks to prompt medical intervention, but he suffered permanent scarring.
Vella stands accused of attempted murder, permanently scarring Farrugia, keeping and carrying a knife without a licence, breaching the peace, beaching the conditions of a probation order and relapsing.
Former Inspector David Saliba told the court this morning that late on August 15, 2003, he received a phone call about a stabbing in Balzan.
On site, he saw blood stains on the steps on the Maria Assunta band club.
The victim, Raymond Farrugia was taken immediately to the hospital and was in danger of dying because of the injuries he received.
The accused, Marco Vella also known as Il-Habsi, was arrested.
The police spoke to a number of witnesses who told them that the accused had been in the Labour Party club in Balzan and a small argument broke out after he bought a beer and momentarily left, only to return to find his beer missing.
Mr Falzon told him that he drank it and the barman got him another one.
The barman, Godwin, had asked Stephen Falzon to tell the accused not to go to the bar anymore because he expected that he could drink on the house, whenever he went there.
As for the fight, the accused had told the police that he had defended himself from Mr Falzon and the victim who, he claimed, had actually attacked him. He claimed that the victim had punched him, and his brother had assaulted him with a crash helmet.
VICTIM GIVES EVIDENCE
Taking the witness stand, the victim, Raymond Farrugia said he met his brother and friends, including the accused and had a beer. An argument developed between Stephen Falzon and the accused and he told them not to shout.
Then the barman threw everyone out because he was closing and another argument broke out.
Mr Farrugia said he knew the accused well and he therefore got between him and Falzon to stop them fighting.
As he started going back to his place to pick up his helmet he was stabbed from behind. He pushed the accused by his shoulders and told him to stop.
Mr Farrugia said he had not told the accused anything or argued with him. All he said was for him to stop arguing.
People told he that he had been injured and he then felt a burning sensation.
Stephen Falzon and his cousin Ivan put him in a car while somebody tried to stop the bleeding .
Mr Farrugia said he was taken to a health centre where he told a doctor that he had fallen on glass, so as not to cause any further trouble since the accused was a long time friend and he did not want trouble.
Under cross examination, the victim said he never saw anyone hitting the accused with a helmet and he did not know how his vest was torn.
He also added that he could only remember one stab wound.
Stephen Falzon told the court that he had had an argument with Marco Vella over drinks.
The argument developed and he was challenged to a fight outside. He said he I didn’t want to fight but didn’t want to be humiliated in front of everyone in the bar.
Ray Farrugia jumped in between them. He then saw Ray push the accused.
Mr Falzon said he had seen the accused playing with the knife in the club.
Outside, all he saw was the blood, and he helped Mr Farrugia into the car. He never touched the accused, Mr Falzon said.