Five Charged With Attacking Police Officers In Ħamrun Plead Not Guilty
The four men and one woman who stand accused of assaulting two police officers in Ħamrun have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The compilation of evidence against 33-year-old Christian Mansueto from Siġġiewi, 44-year-old Kurt Borg from Qormi, 23-year-old Redeimen Aquilina from Ħamrun, 46-year-old Elton Borg from St Julian’s and his wife, 42-year-old Erica Borg started today. They are being charged with causing grievous injuries to one of the constables and slight injuries to the second officer, as well as preventing the two of them from carrying out their duties.
At the start of the hearing, the defence told the Court that it has full confidence in Magistrate Monica Vella in light of the fact that her husband is a member of the police force, TVM News reported.
According to the prosecution, the two constables were on foot patrol in Triq il-Kbira in Ħamrun when they approached a vehicle to give it a fine. The vehicle’s owner Kurt Borg subsequently approached the police and was then joined by Elton Borg and both were allegedly arrogant.
Inspector Elisia Scicluna said that the two men started touching the arms of the police officers and even trampled on the foot of one of them. Despite being asked not to touch the police, they proceeded to push one of the constables. At this point, more people started gathering on the scene and the police were assaulted and hit several times by the two men, including the defendant Erica Borg.
Some people on site were saying that Elton Borg’s father was suffering from a heart attack during the ordeal but this turned out to be false. The father was in good health and even punched the police repeatedly, according to the inspector. The situation only calmed down when one of the constables fired the taser gun and the district police arrived.
Video evidence surfacing on social media as well as footage captured through body cams show the defendants assault the constables. A video captured by a bus passing through the same road confirmed that the body cam of one of the constables had fallen to the ground and was collected by Kurt Borg. The body cam has not yet been retrieved.
The defence argued that one of the constables had used inappropriate language against Kurt and Eric Borg. According to relatives who were on the scene and cross-examined, at the point when Kurt Borg was asked to give his driving license and opened the car’s pocket, the constable said “You’re a good lawyer *** (offensive word), I did not ask for a search”.
The defence further requested the Court to declare the arrest illegal because none of the accused were given their rights and warnings listed in the criminal code.
The Prosecution is being led by Inspector Elisia Scicluna, together with Attorney General Jennifer Polidano’s lawyer. Lawyers Franco Debono, Arthur Azzopardi, Jacob Magri, Charles Mercieca, Mario Mifsud, Nicholas Mifsud, Alex Scerri Herrera and Matthew Xuereb are appearing for the accused, while Dr Herman Mula is appearing for the two constables.
Images of defendants before court via TVM News.
READ NEXT: Desirei Grech’s Future As Birkirkara Mayor In Doubt With New Vote Tomorrow
