Suspended term over bar fight

A soldier who smashed a glass in the face of a woman at a nightclub was yesterday given a suspended jail term.

Ronnie Mackay, 29, of Ħamrun, and Mandy Formosa were involved in an argument at Tzers nightclub in Paceville when the accused allegedly touched her as he shuffled past near the bar area on February 21 last year at about 1.45 a.m. She threw her drink at him and, in retaliation, he smashed a glass into her face, the court heard.

During the compilation of evidence, Ms Formosa admitted that, during the altercation, she could have said too much and that, in fact, Mr Mackay could have actually tried to push past her and not deliberately touch her.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke noted that, in his statement to the police, the accused had at first admitted trying to flirt with her while walking to the toilet and that she rejected his advances and threw a glass at him, but then changed his version while testifying.

He said in court that, while on his way to the toilet, he felt someone push him and he turned and saw Ms Formosa and asked her what was the matter. She accused him of trying to flirt with her and told him to leave her alone. At that point she threw a glass at him.

The magistrate said the circumstances of the case, the witnesses heard and the fact that the accused had changed his versions led her to believe the version given by the victim that Mr Mackay had smashed the glass into her face.

The court said it took into consideration the seriousness of the charges, but also that the accused had a clean police record, before handing down a three-month jail term suspended for a year.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Mackay.