The German man assaulted last Sunday at the Barrakka lift has strongly denied he insulted Malta and feels his reputation has been unfairly tarnished.
It makes me shudder that perceived verbal insults can be used as justification for serious violent assaults in a modern European country
Michael Mertsch, 51, was treated for facial injuries after being punched by lift attendant Mario Antonelli, 45.
Still bruised and bandaged when he spoke to The Sunday Times yesterday, Dr Mertsch said court proceedings and comments made by Magistrate Carol Peralta in sentencing had “added insult to injury”.
Before sentencing Mr Antonelli to a two-year conditional discharge, Magistrate Peralta said he had private information that Dr Mertsch was a difficult person.
“Questioning my personal integrity when, as far as I’m aware, I had met this person for the first time during the court case, is extremely unfair.
“I am the victim yet I now find myself having to deal with considerable damage to my personal and professional reputation,” said Dr Mertsch, an executive for a telecommunications company in Malta.
Dr Mertsch is particularly aggrieved that he was not asked to give his version of events in court, due to the attacker admitting to the crime. The only time Dr Mertsch was asked to speak by Magistrate Peralta was to explain why his broken glasses had cost a “ridiculous” €350. Instead, only Mr Antonelli’s version of events was heard.
Mr Antonelli claimed he punched Dr Mertsch after he refused to pay for the €1 fee for the lift and hurled insults at Malta and Maltese, something the German vehemently denied yesterday.
Dr Mertsch said the lift had been free of charge on the way down and, because of a lack of signage at the bottom, he presumed it was free on the way back up.
He was also wearing headphones which meant he may not have heard Mr Antonelli’s initial attempts to call him.
“I merely tried to explain that I had not paid on the way down; I never refused to pay when I was very rudely asked to do so. In fact, as confirmed in open court by the lift operator, I had paid for the ticket and had it in my hand when I was punched,” he said.
Dr Mertsch said it was in fact Mr Antonelli who insulted Germany and not the other way around.
“He made a racist remark linking me to the mass murder of Jews in World War II, which is the worst way to insult a German. I did not utter one bad word against Malta the whole time,” he insisted.
Having lived in Malta since 2011, Dr Mertsch said he had a deep respect for the island and its people.
He said the operator threw the punch when he threatened to report him.
Mr Antonelli then returned to his room while another attendant brought out tissues for him to treat the heavy bleeding from a wound above the eye.
“It makes me shudder that perceived verbal insults can be used as justification for serious violent assaults in a modern European country,” Dr Mertsch said.
Last October, Magistrate Peralta conditionally discharged a Mellieħa man who ran over an Australian tourist who had insinuated he was gay.