A 35-year-old man from Zebbug has been given an 18-month jail term suspended for three years after he was found guilty of damaging a car, driving carelessly, slightly injuring a disabled person and relapsing.

The Court heard victim John Grech recount that in May 2010 he was a passenger in a car that was being driven by his brother Anthony when they were overtaken by the accused, Frankie Falzon, who then stopped to give way to other cars on the roundabout.

Mr Grech said that Mr Falzon reversed into them damaging their car. They got out to examine the damage and the accused also got out and beat them up.

Mr Grech said that his brother Anthony pleaded with the accused to leave him (John) alone because he was disabled. However, he went on beating him until he managed to drive away while his brother (Anthony) escaped on foot.

However, the accused followed him in his car until they came to a parking area when the accused again got out of his car and started hitting him, tearing up his shirt.

Anthony Grech corroborated his brother’s version of the events.

Mr Falzon, however, claimed that he had stopped at the roundabout and the victims crashed into him, got out of their car and insulted his mother. He said he got offended because his son had passed away.

When he realised that Mr Grech was disabled he felt sorry. Asked if he had been drunk, Mr Falzon initially said he had taken two glasses of wine but later admitted to also drinking beer.

Magistreate Audrey Demicoli said that after evaluating the testimony and the behaviour of all involved on the witness stand, she had no doubt in her mind that the accident had happened as the victims described it.