A Romanian man standing trial for causing the death of a Sudanese three years ago told jurors he had pushed him to protect his friend, never intending to hurt him, and would have to live with the remorse.
“I will feel sorry for the rest of my life because I did not know him and I feel sorry for him and his family. I feel sorry for myself also that I am here now and for my family who are suffering too. I’m really, really sorry for what has happened,” Antonel Dobre said.
He recalled that Sudanese Osama Al Shazliay Saleh had elbowed his Romanian friend, Radu Rica, in the nose while in a Paceville club. Sometime later, when they walked out of the club, Mr Saleh walked angrily towards his friend and, as Mr Saleh was about to push Mr Rica, he intervened and pushed Mr Saleh, who fell backwards and hit his head on the ground.
“I wanted to defend Rica and push him [Mr Saleh] away not to argue. What I did, I did because I wanted to help my friend but I am sorry for the way it actually ended,” he said.
Mr Dobre, 29, is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Mr Saleh, 26, known to his friends as Sunshine, in Paceville on March 17, 2012 at about 6am.
What I did, I did because I wanted to help my friend but I am sorry for the way it actually ended
The prosecution is alleging that Mr Dobre punched Mr Saleh in the face, causing him to fall, hitting his head on the ground and suffering a brain haemorrhage that led to his death three days later.
Mr Dobre yesterday gave jurors his version of what had happened.
He said he had gone to Paceville with Mr Rica and, eventually, they ended up at Déjà Vu. His friend went to the toilet and when he returned, about 10 minutes later, he was bleeding from the nose and appeared scared. “I asked him what had happened and he told me that a dark-skinned person had hit him. I suggested he sit down and rest so the bleeding stops. After about 10 minutes we left to go back home,” he said.
Mr Rica walked out first and he followed. After they walked up a flight of steps, Mr Saleh hurried towards them and stopped in front of Mr Rica, the accused recounted.
“He was shouting, wanting to fight and causing a commotion with the bouncers too. He was arguing with Rica. He was swearing in English. The bodyguards intervened. After seeing that the fight was escalating, I intervened. I pushed him with my left hand,” he said.
He recalled standing on Mr Saleh’s left, with his chest facing the victim’s left shoulder. He swung his left arm and, with palm open, he pushed him by the front of the face. Mr Saleh fell backwards.
“I was scared when I saw him fall, failing to get up and roll his eyes,” Mr Dobre testified, adding that a bouncer tried to assault him but was restrained by another bouncer. “I just left. I was scared,” he said.
He was shown CCTV footage in which he and Mr Rica were seen walking down St Rita’s steps at about 6.45am. The footage also showed Mr Rica pointing out that his (Mr Rica’s) hands were covered in blood. “It was the blood that came out of his nose when he was elbowed by the dark-skinned person,” the accused noted.
Asked why he had left for Romania later that same day, he said he was afraid and wanted to see his family.
“I didn’t know the gravity of what happened. Yes, I was concerned. If I knew how serious the situation was I wouldn’t have left,” Mr Dobre said, adding he was unaware the police were looking for him.
He said he wanted to return to Malta to see what had happened and, in fact, was about to board a plane back to Malta on March 24 when he was arrested. He spent two weeks in a lock-up in Romania until he was escorted to Malta on April 2.
Mr Dobre recalled having had two beers and five tequilas on the night of the incident and denied using all his strength when he pushed Mr Saleh, pointing out he was right-handed and, therefore, could not have used all his force given he had used his left hand.
Asked if he had anything against dark-skinned people, he replied: “I’m very, very sorry. I’m not a racist and have nothing against dark-skinned people. I have friends who are dark-skinned.”
Lawyers Kevin Valletta and Nadia Attard, from the Attorney General’s office, are prosecuting.
Lawyer Roberto Montalto is representing Mr Dobre.
Lawyer Larry Formosa is appearing parte civile.