A 22-year-old man this afternoon pleaded guilty to damaging his friend’s BMW after he refused to give him a lift back home from Gianpula.

Jurgen Schembri, from Pieta`, admitted to causing more than €2,500 worth of damage to his friend’s car early this morning.

The court heard how the two friends had gone together to Gianpula late yesterday. While there, the friends got into an argument BMW owner Clifton Demanuele refused to give Mr Schembri a lift back home. 

Mr Schembri walked home and, in a fit of rage, drove his father’s car to his friend’s house in Ħamrun and threatened him with a knife. He then rammed his father’s car into Mr Demanuele’s BMW. The incident happened at about at 5.45am

Mr Schembri was arraigned under arrest before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit this afternoon.

He pleaded guilty to voluntary damage, dangerous driving, driving without a valid driving licence or insurance cover, swearing in public, breaching the peace, possession of a sharp and pointed instrument without a police licence, disobeying police orders and to threatening Mr Demanuele.

Magistrate Stafrace Zammit put off the case to next week after hearing Police Inspector Elliot Magro explaining how Mr Demanuele was willing to forgive Mr Schembri for what he had done.

Mr Schembri had also said he was willing to pay for the damage caused to his friend’s BMW.

 In the meantime, Mr Schembri was granted bail against a €5,000 personal guarantee and ordered to appear in court next week. He was also ordered to stay away from his friend or any other witnesses.

Lawyer Leontine Calleja was defence counsel.