Lawyer Tonio Azzopardi was assaulted by a client’s son in 2006. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

A man was jailed for four years after he was convicted of seriously injuring his mother’s lawyer, Tonio Azzopardi, during an assault at his office in 2006.

Magistrate Mareseann Farrugia jailed Philip Camilleri, 35, from Marsa for having shown “gross arrogance and intimidation”, which had manifested itself in “unacceptable acts of violence”.

Mr Camilleri and his father, also named Philip who died a year after the incident, had been charged with the assault that was triggered off over an €11,600 schedule of deposit over a separate civil case.

Magistrate Farrugia jailed Mr Camilleri for four years over the assault, which left the lawyer with a perforated eardrum.

The incident took place on July 3 at 5.30pm. He was also found guilty of stealing €2,300 from the office, exercising a presumed right over his property and causing damage at his office.

Mr Camilleri has appealed the judgment.

The court heard that Dr Azzopardi was legal counsel to Joyce Camilleri, the wife and mother of the accused, in a civil case she had won at the beginning of 2006.

At the end of the court case, the Camilleris were to withdraw a schedule of deposit they had deposited in court. They later learnt it had been in Dr Azzopardi’s control and so they went to his office to demand the money once it belonged to them.

An argument broke out and Dr Azzopardi was assaulted by the father and son.

Dr Azzopardi told the court that on the day in question he was inside his office with a few clients when someone knocked at the door and, when he opened, two men barged into the office and hit him repeatedly, mostly with blows to his head.

He said Mr Camilleri Jr beat him until he fell to the ground. The man continued hitting the lawyer and kicking him especially in his head. The father also joined his son, repeatedly hitting him.

Dr Azzopardi said the incident must have lasted between six and eight minutes and he must have received around 40 blows in all, most of which directed at his head. He said he begged the men to stop hitting him and leave him alone.

Court experts testified that Dr Azzopardi had suffered a hearing disability of 21.6 per cent as a result of the assault.

Magistrate Farrugia said the court could not possibly believe the line of defence that it was Dr Azzopardi who had first assaulted Mr Camilleri Jr. She therefore jailed him for four years and ordered him to pay €1,400 in court expenses.