A man who was allegedly “brutally attacked” by the police when he was stopped for alleged drunk driving did not look intoxicated in any way, did not smell of alcohol and looked sober, Mosta district police sergeant David Cina told the court this morning.
He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Jean Paul Aquilina, who is accused of dangerous driving, disobeying police orders and assaulting police officers.
Mr Aquilina is claiming he was attacked by the police and two Rapid Intervention Unit officers, Mark Tonna and David Camilleri, are facing criminal charges.
PS Cina recounted that, on the day of the incident, he went on the site of the incident at around 1.30am and there found a number of officers from the RIU as well as a number of civilians.
When he arrived, witnesses were saying look what they did to him and he felt that they were angry at the situation.
A woman, Josianne Vassallo, told him “sergeant, they beat him up for nothing”. He said that when he saw Mr Aquilina, he asked him what happened and how he was. This was because one side of his face was very red and he had a mark under his eye.
Mr Aquilina, PS Cina said, started crying and told him “they beat me up, look what they did to me”.
PS Cina said everyone was speaking at the same time and he told them to go to the police station where they could speak calmly. He took Mr Aquilina to the district police car which took Mr Aquilina to the health centre.
PS Cina said Ms Vassallo insisted on joining Mr Aquilina in the police car but he could not let her because of procedure.
PS Cina told the court that Mr Aquilina did not look intoxicated in any way, did not smell of alcohol and looked sober.
He said that when his family eventually arrived at the police station, they demanded justice.
PS Cina said that Ms Vassallo had said that the young one beat him up. When asked by defence lawyer Mario de Marco whether she had been referring to PC Camilleri, Mr Cina replied in the affirmative.
He also said that the family were not aggressive at any time but were shocked at what had happened.
The case continues.