‘If he had the chance he would have killed me’ – kiosk owner

The owner of a kiosk in Valletta this morning told the court how he fought an attacker last month who went to buy cigarettes and then demanded money.

Testifying in the compilation of evidence against Egyptian Ali Ibrahem Eldessouki, 38, from Valletta, who is pleading not guilty to his attempted murder, owner Anthony Fenech told the court that the accused had walked into his kiosk on July 10 and asked for a packet of cigarettes.

When he told him he did not have any for sale, the accused demanded €20, took out a penknife and waved it at him, Mr Fenech said.

He said he then grabbed a chair to try to protect himself and the accused grabbed another chair and started smashing the kiosk. He also smashed a food display with his head.

At one point, Mr Fenech said, he felt the accused’s knife poking him in the back. He said he also grabbed a 30cm kitchen knife to try to protect himself.

“If he had the chance he would have killed me,” Mr Fenech said.

Eyewitness Charles Tonna, a taxi driver who had been having his morning tea at the kiosk, said he grabbed the attacker by the hand and pushed him away when the accused tried to stab the victim in the back,

“Had I not done that the story would be very different,” he said.

The case continues.