A policeman who tried to stop two brothers from fighting at a Birżebbuġa wedding on Saturday was knocked out cold by one of them as the brothers' father attacked his colleague, a court heard today. 

Carmelo Zammit, 57, and his son Bernard, 30, both from Tarxien, started off their week in court after being arraigned in relation to the violent episode.

Duty magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard how last Saturday evening a police sergeant and a fellow constable had been assigned duties at the wedding reception held at Villa Blanche in Birzebbugia.

Close to 1.00am, a heated argument broke out between Bernard Zammit and his brother. 

The sergeant stepped in to restore order, only to be knocked out by the co-accused, Bernard Zammit. His father Carmelo then entered the fray, assaulting the police constable. 

Today in court, Bernard Zammit pleaded not guilty to having threatened the two police officers, slightly injuring the sergeant and damaging his specs whilst being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

The father, Carmelo Zammit, also pleaded not guilty to attacking the police constable who was carrying out his duties, disobeying a legitimate order or preventing a public officer from carrying out his duties. He was further charged with being a recidivist.

Defence lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace filed a request for bail arguing that his clients had been at the wedding but “something got out of hand.” The merits of the case were to be dealt with before another court, the lawyer remarked, further noting that no civilian witnesses were yet to testify.

The court upheld the request for bail for each of the co-accused against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €2,000. Both men are to sign the bail book twice a week and are to keep away from the prosecution’s witnesses.

Inspector Charlotte Curmi prosecuted. Lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace was defence counsel.