A Żabbar man who faced a stint in jail for having insulted police and posted other racist remarks on Facebook has been given a “final opportunity” after proving that he was getting his life back on track.
Josef Vincenti, a 31-year old maintenance worker, had landed on the wrong side of the law after airing inflammatory views on Facebook about the use of speed guns by traffic police and posting “racist” remarks.
He was charged with instigation to commit an offence, incitement to disobey the law and to racial hatred, as well as the misuse of electronic equipment. He was further charged with having breached the conditions of an earlier bail decree, besides allegedly being a recidivist. He filed an early guilty plea, admitting all charges.
A probation officer explained that Mr Vincenti had been facing hard times and was battling alcohol and drug addiction. He had also lost contact with his young son and was currently out of employment after undergoing surgery.
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The probation officer had also reported that the man experienced difficulty in “controlling the way he expressed his thoughts and opinions in a civilised manner.”
However, the court observed that Mr Vincenti had a very supportive family and was finding strength in his current partner, so much so that he had recently overcome his alcohol abuse and was marking progress in kicking the drug habit.
In the light of the accused’s early guilty plea, full cooperation as well as the “evident remorse and great regret” for his wrongdoing, magistrate Rachel Montebello deemed that the man deserved a final chance and spared him an effective jail term.
The court placed the accused under a three-year Probation Order, fining him €200 for the breach of bail and also ordering the forfeiture of the €300 bail bond.
Upholding recommendations by the probation officer, the court declared that the accused “needed guidance and help to keep to the right path” thereby granting him a “final opportunity” under the express condition of accepting psychological help to address his personal difficulties.
Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel.