Students claim 'naked' man pointed gun at them

A man was fined €300 and conditionally discharged today after he admitted to having pointed an ornamental gun at a group of foreign students who had claimed to have seen him naked on his balcony.

The incident happened early yesterday at Triq It-Turisti, Bugibba.

Marco Hili, 42, admitted to having threatened four students, carrying a weapon, being drunk and swearing in public.

Sources said that a group of girls claimed to have seen Mr Hili standing naked on his balcony at 4 a.m. They called their male friends, who called on him to put on some clothes.

Mr Hili then produced an ornamental gun and aimed it at them. The students, who did not realise that the gun was a fake, got scared and ran off, calling the police.

Mr Hili denied he was naked and said he was wearing his underwear. Policemen also said they found Mr Hili in his underwear.

Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri prosecuted. Dr Arthur Azzopardi was defence counsel.