Maximilian Ciantar was today granted bail after a court heard testimony of how he tried to assault journalists in the law courts building last month. However he was still remanded in custody, having been refused bail in an earlier case where he was accused of violating a court-ordered ban on driving.
The ban came into force after Mr Ciantar served 16 months in prison for running over twin girls while driving in Attard last year.
Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona today heard the evidence of three reporters: Waylon Johnston (The Times) Ray Abdilla (MediaLink Communications) and Gaetano Micallef (Union Print).
In his testimony Mr Johnston explained that on November 21 while in the court room of Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani, he was waiting with other journalists for the arraignment of Mr Ciantar for allegedly violating a driving ban.
Before the sitting started, Mr Ciantar turned towards the journalists and told them 'get out now or you will be kicked out'.
The reporters stayed put and the case continued.
Mr Johnston said that after the sitting, during which Mr Ciantar was granted bail, as the reporters left the courtroom Mr Ciantar turned towards him, and, Mr Johnston said, he darted out of the way.
Mr Johnston explained to Magistrate Micallef Trigona that Mr Ciantar lunged towards him but was eventually stopped by his police escort.
Mr Abdilla in his testimony confirmed Mr Johnston statement that the accused turned towards the journalists and threatened them but said he did not see the alleged assault because he left the courtroom a little bit earlier and went to the press room.
When asked by defence counsel Joe Brincat whether the reporters were afraid after hearing Mr Ciantar's statement in court, Mr Abdilla said 'no'.
Mr Micallef explained that on the way out of the court room, Mr Ciantar tried to kick Mr Johnston. He did not hit him because he was held by two policemen.
When asked by the magistrate whether he saw Mr Ciantar put his leg out, Mr Micallef said 'yes'.
He was also asked by the Magistrate whether anyone provoked Mr Ciantar . Mr Micallef said 'no'.
Gaetano Micallef said the reporters did not draw anyone's attention to the threat at the beginning of the proceedings.
PC Leroy Balzan Engerer said that about 2 p.m. he took Mr Ciantar out of the courtroom and Mr Ciantar made a movement with his hand to indicate that he forgot something. He turned, and he thought that Ciantar wanted to speak to his father, who was behind him, but he turned towards the journalists.
Mr Cinatar did not hit the journalists only because the police did not give him the chance, the constable said.
Following the testimony, Dr Brincat requested bail, pointing out that the main witnesses had now been heard. Bail was granted against a personal guarantee of €2,000.
However Mr Ciantar did not walk free since he was refused bail in the other case about allegedly driving in violation of the driving ban.