Assaults on policemen becoming more common, magistrate told

An Assistant Police Commissioner and two inspectors yesterday described a vicious attack on three officers who were each hit with a glass bottle while trying to break up a fight in a band club.

The officers were testifying during the arraignment of two brothers accused of assaulting the policemen.

Assistant Commissioner Neville Aquilina and Inspectors Joseph Agius and Anthony Cachia said that Steven and Nicholas Farrugia, 24 and 19, respectively, both from Żurrieq, had first been involved in a fight at the Qormi bowling club. They were then involved in a second fight a short time later at Tal-Werqa ta’ San Ġorġ band club in the same village at 1.30 a.m. yesterday morning.

In the second fight, three police officers – PS Dionysius Agius and PC Mario Caruana and PC Shaun Debono – were each hit on the head with a glass bottle at different instances as they tried to calm the situation down, the witnesses said. They needed sutures to their heads.

Mr Agius said the situation got so out of hand that pepper spray had to be used. Moreover, at the local police station, one of the men smashed a glass door while handcuffed.

Mr Aquilina told the court that the situation could have been far worse because the fight happened in the midst of a large crowd during one of the village’s feasts. He said attacks on police officers were becoming more frequent and this was a very serious crime. The officers were just doing their job when they were assaulted.

The men pleaded not guilty to attempted serious injury of three officers, slightly injuring them and relapsing.

Defence lawyer Roberto Montalto asked for bail but Magistrate Gabriella Vella turned it down after taking into consideration the very serious nature of the charges.