Man in court, two hurt in brawl at mass meeting
A man has been remanded in custody after two persons were injured in a clash between rival political supporters in Zabbar yesterday.
Alfred Gialanze, 56 of Zabbar, was accused of having seriously injured Anton Vassallo and also injured his girlfriend Michelle Wilson. He allegedly smashed a glass in Mr Vassallo's face.
Mr Gialanze is pleading not guilty.
His lawyer Roberto Montalto said that the PN yesterday held a mass meeting in Zabbar. Mr Gialanze was in a bar along with the two alleged victims and a third person.
At one point the third person insulted Mr Gialenze (a Labour supporter) with a political comment. Mr Gialenze replied with some expletives.
When Anton Vassallo heard him, he intervened, saying he would not have tolerated comments like the ones made by Mr Gialenze. An argument broke out and they came to blows.
Mr Gialaneze allegedly smashed a glass in Mr Vassallo's face.
During pleas on bail, Police Inspector Frank Sammut noted that the Labour Party would hold a mass meeting in Zabbar on Sunday. He said all three people lived in Zabbar and there was a risk of this matter erupting again,
Magistrate Marsann Farrugia remanded Mr Gialanze in custody because of his criminal record and the seriousness of the charges.
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62 Comments
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Mr Alistaire Gill
Jan 21st, 22:53
Oh what a breath of fresh air from a new PN candidate in 2013
Marco Azzopardi
Jan 21st, 20:40
People argue about every thing and kill each other for nothing so what's the fuss about......
J. Brown
Jan 21st, 19:45
"MALTA TAGHNA LKOLL"...."JIEN NIXTIEQ LI IL PN JICCELEBRA JUM IR REPUBLIKA U L-MLP JICCELEBRA L-INDIPENDENZA UKOLL"...........
WHEN PIGS FLY !
*Joseph Brincat
Jan 21st, 19:37
The electoral campaign is too long
3 weeks would be Enough !!!
Maria Barbara
Jan 21st, 22:33
Agreed. I think everyone knows who they're voting for by now! But we have to endure these nice weeks long!!
Jake Vella
Jan 22nd, 00:23
I agree...and I think that all electoral manifesto should be published on day 2 of the electoral campaign allowing enough time for citizens to read it and politicians to elaborate
Eric Sammut
Jan 21st, 19:34
This is exactly what the PN wanted to happen thinking they can get a few votes by the bad publicity of the labour behavior.
John Azzopoardi
Jan 21st, 18:44
I thougth everything was calm as per our editorial in the times on Sunday
Philip Micallef
Jan 21st, 18:25
Old habits, die hard. Any other comment is superflous.
Albert Spiteri
Jan 21st, 22:41
@ Philip Micallef - Past elections campaigns have been known to bring out the worst in some like nothing else. Civilized people enjoy reading in The Times and other news media about the civilized manner people are behaving during this campaign. Hopefully we have come of age and realize that elections come and go, but relationships stay on. Let's all enjoy, and may LP win.
joseph azzopardi
Jan 21st, 16:43
Are we still going to behave like the old days? Have you ever heard of a similar case in another E.U country? We are still the only people that take politics as a friend and enemy icon,after all,who ever wins and whoever looses are both maltese citizens are they? So typically is a case of maltese against maltese,what a shame!!!
Mary Camenzuli
Jan 21st, 16:39
Well, it's only 25 years ago that Żejtun was
tal-Labour biss.
Some things never change...
others do, like the colour of the ties...
.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Jan 21st, 16:31
hope this was a one-off incident...
Victor Vella
Jan 21st, 15:51
Stupidity at the best! Litigation on politicians is nonsense , insipid, and parochial .
Jeffrey Mallia
Jan 21st, 15:51
Yesterday I've been to one of the meetings.........It is not right to see beverage stalls selling BOTTLES of spirits in these events..........Some of the people ( which supports my party ) where truly DISGUSTING, half drunk and soliciting trouble.............
John Dee
Jan 21st, 15:38
Nice to know we are all mature adults able to carry an intelligent conversation with our fellows.
Joanne Micallef
Jan 21st, 15:30
Personally I think Mass Meetings are very outdated, nowadays both parties can get their messages across through the media, plus only the die hard supporters go and waste their time at a mass meeting to go and fuel the politicians ego, who in turn loves preaching to the converted, hence the waste of time.
D Borg
Jan 21st, 16:35
agree 100%
godfrey caruana
Jan 21st, 17:17
i totally agree with joanne,there's no need of mass meetings any more,there is the media and for the comfort of our home with a cup of tea and some bisciuts,we can hear and listen to the messages from both parties,what's important is to vote and vote well
G Schembri
Jan 21st, 23:49
So are Village Festas. We can also watch football matches on TV and not waste time and money to go to the stadium where we can meet football hooligans, not to mention the silly persons who wave the Italian or British flag or another flag when the team they support wins.
Bertrand Gove
Jan 21st, 15:29
This is not because the electoral campaign is too long, nor is it because of the speeches made by leaders of political parties.
It is due to our tribal attitude. Do we call ourselves a European country? I think we need another few generations to eradicate all this madness. Mass meetings are tribal events. They're completely unnecessary. Whoever attends has already made up their mind.
David Borg
Jan 21st, 15:10
This is what to expect after both parties fuel people with fear and hate. Then we profess on hate speech ...
Andre Briffa
Jan 21st, 15:05
Typical MLP
R Gatt
Jan 21st, 15:27
read the story......
Paul Gauci
Jan 21st, 15:36
Seems you're unable to understand a news item written in English.
Joe Calleja
Jan 21st, 17:54
FULLY agree. And in answer to Messrs. Gatt and Gauci. Have YOU read the news item. The accused is a known Labourite criminal !!! What else would you expect? L-aqwa li "Malta Taghna Lkoll"! X'se jghid issa Joseph Muscat? Se jikkundanna l-incident, jew se joghoqd jistenna s-sentenza ghal wara l-elezzjoni?!
Mark Cassar
Jan 22nd, 07:58
@R.Gatt & Paul Gauci
"Alfred Gialanze, 56 of Zabbar, was accused of having seriously injured Anton Vassallo and also injured his girlfriend Michelle Wilson. He allegedly smashed a glass in Mr Vassallo's face."
"Mr Gialenze (a Labour supporter)"
therefore....TYPICAL LABOUR!
Freddie Micallef
Jan 21st, 15:02
Qatt u qatt ma ghandu ikun hemm l ebda tip ta vjolenza,pero kampanja eletorali daqstant twila mihiex ta gid la ghal lindividwi u wisq angas ghal din d daqxejn gzira jisimha Malta
twanny borg
Jan 21st, 15:01
Il-politika trid tittiehed bic-cajt milli bil-glied wara kollox il-familji min izomm ma' naha u min ma' ohra. Kullhadd ghandu hbieb ukoll li jzommu ma' nies opposti mhux sewwa tkisser tazza biex issawwat biha.
Angelo Vassallo
Jan 21st, 14:59
Nispera li din tkun l-ewwel u l-ahhar!!!!!!!
Mary Camenzuli
Jan 21st, 16:33
The Magistrate doesn't think so.
.
Joseph Borg
Jan 21st, 14:52
It is important to mention that during yesterday's mass meeting somebody unknown smashed the small Freedom monument situated at the ex-bus terminus.
P. Ciantar
Jan 21st, 15:12
it is important come on trying to excuse such behaviors is typical medieval Malta taghna llkoll lol
Joseph Borg
Jan 21st, 15:25
Ma tarax! I am reporting another disgusting act which happened yesterday. I don't want these things to go unnoticed and I do hope that the Police do their job against both acts and other similar to them.
Yes, irrespective who is the perpetrator!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 21st, 14:50
This is not a new sort of Labour movement at all, it is a throwback to the seventies and eighties.
P Bonnici
Jan 21st, 18:37
Old habits die (or in LP's case NEVER) hard!
M Fava
Jan 21st, 22:16
Yes, when I heard of the destruction of the small Mintoff monument in Zabbar I felt like I had been zapped straight back to the 70s and 80s!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 22nd, 16:44
@M Fava
They were stupidly copying the bad example set by MLP mobsters who brazenly removed the bronze bust of the NP politician from the square in front of St John's Cathedral in Valletta centre.
Charles Vella
Jan 21st, 14:48
Stupid to fight over politics... politicians should fight for us! Not vice versa. They are there to SERVE us, not vice versa! How medieval!
J Micallef
Jan 21st, 14:57
Well said.
Joseph Mifsud
Jan 21st, 14:46
Such brawls are not rare during election period. As long as it doesn't end up on a mass fight, these episodes are pretty controllable by police. Still its a shame and hope that its just an isolated incident.
Daniel Cilia
Jan 21st, 14:40
Hey there there's a BIG difference between discussing (arguing) about politics and smashing a glass in someone's face!!!
Robert Cassar
Jan 21st, 14:36
Bhat tfal.. BOTH leaders should make sure to control their own people and tempers.
D Portelli
Jan 21st, 14:31
Stupid to fight for a party.
Maybe we should put all those that cause this short of trouble in prison until the election is over. Safer for the rest of the population.
twanny borg
Jan 21st, 15:02
Prosit naqbel mieghek forsi nikbru ftit.
Luke Borg
Jan 21st, 14:28
Same old Labour... When will they ever learn?
Karl Cutajar
Jan 21st, 14:58
u seem to have read incorrectly..
Dominic Vella
Jan 21st, 15:08
14 comments and only you mentioned the word 'labour'....stupid!
what is your point? is it the party's fault?
we all know that all goups (political, band clubs, football etc.) are made up from a mix of well behaved and bad behaved people. are you saying the other guy was a saint?
understood your agenda...make labour look ugly.....lets all pretend all nationalits are well behaved angels.
Paul Schembri
Jan 21st, 15:28
Luke BORG
KEMMENT BANALI SIEHBI FIL HAJJA KELMA NIEQS AHJAR MIN KELMA ZEJDA U VOJTA IPPROVA IKBER MIN KLIEMEK HALLI DEJJEM TIRRENJA LIMHABBA U IL PACI
Mary Camenzuli
Jan 21st, 16:36
Same old Labour...
with new blue ties.
.
M Fava
Jan 21st, 22:11
Kumment mhux f'loku, Sur Luke. Ma smajtx bil-lapida ta' Mintoff li tfarrket minn Partitarji Nazzjonalisti wara l-meeting f'Haz-Zabbar?
Wenzu Cole
Jan 21st, 14:22
Shame on you both.
Robert Borg
Jan 21st, 14:16
nitqatlu ghal-politikanti...u leeeee
paul camilleri
Jan 21st, 14:14
so much for everyone staying calm during elections , one dreds what is to come after the elections!! both political parties should condem these acts, and the courts should imprison these offenders till after elections.
anthony sultana
Jan 21st, 14:21
agree
Charles Vella
Jan 21st, 14:49
agreed 100% Mr. Camilleri!
Mr Jimmie Rowe
Jan 21st, 14:04
This is a typical Maltese hobby apart from making money out of us foreigners, politics is also their priority, and some tend to go over board, well- they got nothing else to do but bickering about stupid politics, its not as if its earning them any income, better if they go to church more often and pray.
joe vella
Jan 21st, 14:37
if you brand the maltese as enjoying making money out of foreigners then this is not the place for you my dear!
and if you know of any country whose citizens do not enjoy making money out of foreigners pse tell me
Mario Micallef
Jan 21st, 14:38
Im sorry but isnt this the same thing that your fellow countrymen do when the maltese visit a foreign country? what do you expect that we give everything for free?
M. Cardona
Jan 21st, 14:41
Mr Rowe,
what's keeping you here if the grass is so much greener in your country?
Patrick Jansen
Jan 21st, 14:44
Do you live in Malta Mr Rowe? If so, showing a little bit more respect to your hosts wouldn't be that bad, don't you think so? Making money out of foreigners you say. Have you ever been to other touristy places around the world?? Is Malta worse? The answer is a big NO. And at lease you don't get hassled by persons trying to sell you crappy things on the street all the time.
Jay Oatmon
Jan 21st, 14:03
I am dumbfounded that sane people would choose to fight over what politicians say or do - I would cross the street rather than stay and talk to a politician.
Please choose the reason of your report below: