The argument which culminated in a 22-year-old Libyan allegedly knifing six people in Paceville erupted after one Arab man upbraided another for harassing women, telling him he was giving Arabs a bad name.
Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard yesterday the argument subsequently escalated and a slightly inebriated Ehab Zorgani, who was not involved in the initial argument, ran about stabbing a number of people, including innocent passers-by.
Mr Zorgani is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder and grievous bodily harm of Libyan Hadji Salah and Dutchman Antoon Van der Heide.
He is also charged with grievously injuring Richard Galea, Ali Muhannad Fadlalla, another Libyan, and Dutchmen Brian Jan Bos and De Roo Neik.
Police Inspector Silvio Baldacchino, prosecuting, told the court CCTV footage backed up Mr Zorgani’s statement that the argument started between an acquaintance of his, identified by his dreadlocks and whose name is unknown to the police, and Mr Salah. It is being alleged that a highly inebriated Mr Salah, who was accompanied by his friend, Mr Fadlalla, was harassing women and making a nuisance of himself.
The dreadlocked acquaintance approached Mr Salah and rebuked him, telling him that “it is because of people like you that we Arabs get a bad name”.
At first I thought he had punched me but then a lot of blood gushed out of my mouth and I nearly lost consciousness
Mr Salah did not take it well and an argument ensued in the area where the Axis nightclub used to be located. The prosecution is saying that Mr Zorgani, who knew none of his victims, produced a flick knife and slashed Mr Salah and Mr Fadlalla.
Mr Salah was critically injured, suffering multiple stab wounds to the face and to the back.
Three Dutchmen happened to be walking by when Mr Zorgani ran into them and slashed their faces. Mr Van der Heide was the worst off, being hit in an artery in his temple, very nearly killing him.
Mr Galea, who bore a freshly-stitched-up slash wound to his face, and his girlfriend, Nicole Ghigo, recounted their ordeal in court. Mr Galea said he was walking down the hill towards their car together with his girlfriend when Mr Zorgani appeared.
“Suddenly, a man was running towards me, offending people in Maltese,” Mr Galea testified.
“He struck out at me. At first I thought he had punched me but then a lot of blood gushed out of my mouth and I nearly lost consciousness.”
Ms Ghigo said they were minding their own business when the accused rushed up the hill and he was shouting obscenities in Maltese.
“The second Richard let go of my hand to let people pass, all hell broke loose. I first thought he had punched him as I didn’t see the knife. But Richard was clutching at his mouth and blood was shooting out of his face.”
She said that, following the attack, she saw Mr Zorgani approach two men who were sitting on a wall and provoking them.
She was then approached by one of the Libyans, who had a slash wound to his upper left arm, and who told her he was stabbed by the same person who had injured her boyfriend.
The court heard that Mr Zorgani was eventually apprehended by the entrance of the Cynergy gym, having been identified by his clothes and a chunky silver choker. In the vicinity, the police found a bloodied flick knife, which had been put in a plastic cup and dumped in a dustbin.Despite being summoned to testify, the court was informed that the three Dutchmen had returned home.
Although they had been expected to remain in Malta until January, Dutch Ambassador Joop Nijssen said the young men had suffered a trauma and their families had asked them to return.
The court ruled there was sufficient prima facie evidence for the accused to be placed under a bill of indictment.