A man who was stabbed during a brawl during last year’s Ħamrun feast was told by his doctor that his weight had probably saved his life as his wounds may have been fatal had he been thinner.
Ian Zammit said he was stabbed five times during the fight, four times on his abdomen and once in his thigh.
[attach id=403729 size="medium"]The Godfather Bar in Santa Venera, outside of which the stabbing occurred last year. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi[/attach]
He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against 49-year-old Carmel Salerno, unemployed, and his 24-year-old son, Fabrizio, a business owner.
They are accused of injuring four men during the brawl outside the Godfather Bar in Santa Venera on August 10.
The pair stand charged with seriously injuring Charlton Agius and with slightly injuring Ian Zammit and Wayne Falzon. The father alone is accused of attempting to seriously injure Mr Zammit and Darren Zammit and with being in possession of an unlicensed penknife during the brawl.
Father and son are facing separate proceedings for allegedly assaulting Enemalta officials during a surprise inspection over a smart meter in the son’s confectionery in Pieta. The meter had allegedly been tampered with.
The court heard that trouble had been brewing for a few days before the feast over an argument between Fabrizio Salerno’s partner, Raisa Sammut, and Mr Falzon’s girlfriend, Denise Schembri, whose sister, Louisa, is dating Ian Zammit. Ms Sammut is Mr Falzon’s ex-girlfriend.
On the feast day, an argument broke out between the Schembri sisters and Ms Sammut after they took offence to the latter’s Facebook post.
Ian Zammit told the court he was outside the bar when Ms Sammut started to insult him and then he was assaulted by a group of people who included the Salernos.
Mr Falzon also testified to explain how his assailants ripped off his gold chain and bracelet, which were never returned to him.
Darren Zammit, on his part, said that he was assaulted by the two accused and that in a few seconds, he was hit once in the head with the penknife and once in his side.
He was also hit by a passing car after ending up in the middle of the road as he sought to defend himself.
The Schembri sisters also testified, with Denise Schembri saying she saw Carmel Salerno brandishing a penknife and Louisa Schembri describing how the brawl that broke out involved “at least 10 people, and all I saw was lots of blood”.
The case continues.
Police Inspector Sarah Magri prosecuted. Lawyers David Camilleri and Joseph Gatt appeared for the defendant while lawyer David Gatt appeared parte civile for the alleged victims.