A Bulgarian national charged with killing a Serbian man two years ago told jurors yesterday that he had no intention to kill and that it was the victim who walked into the knife he was holding as he was defending himself from the former.
The 29-year-old construction worker insisted that he had not made any movement to stab the victim.
Emil Atanasov, who came to Malta in 2011, was testifying in his defence as his trial over the wilful homicide of 27-year-old Krstic Dragoljub enters the final stages. He also stands charged with grievously injuring the victim’s friend, Zoran Jocic, and carrying a knife during the commission of a crime.
The crime took place in a block of apartments in Triq il-Merluzz in Buġibba in February 2014.
“I am so sorry that a man lost his life but I never had the intention to hurt anyone. I was just defending myself,” Mr Atanasov said as he testified in Bulgarian.
He explained how he was attacked during an argument which erupted late at night over loud music being played at their apartment.
I am so sorry that a man lost his life but I never had the intention to hurt anyone. I was just defending myself
The landlord’s son had turned off the mains supply after repeatedly asking two Serbs his flatmate had invited home for drinks to stop making noise that night.
But even though he was in his room at the time, the Serbs insisted that he was to blame for the lack of power. He said Mr Dragoljub pinned him to the wall while Mr Jocic punched him in the head.
“I felt pain and crawled back to my room. I heard them singing and laughing and wanted them to leave the apartment, so I grabbed a crowbar I use for work and a penknife I had used to cut up my dinner and went to the bedroom next door without any intention to hurt any of them.”
“I told them: ‘Leave now because I have a knife’. But Mr Dragoljub grabbed me by the neck, pushed me against the door and the crowbar fell to the ground. I was choking but I held on to the knife. All of a sudden the man released the grip and I ran off,” Mr Atanasov said.
The case continues tomorrow, when Mr Atanasov will be cross-examined by the prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia.
Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared for the accused.