Lawyer says court cannot remain passive on attacks on police

It is unacceptable that police officers are assaulted while on duty, lawyer Stefano Filletti told the court this morning, explaining that should a civilian feel aggravated by a police order, he should file for damages and not contest the legitimate police order.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli was hearing final submissions in the case seeing five family members being charged of seriously injuring two police officers in a fight after a wedding at Villa St Anna in Wied il-Ghajn, on 25 September 2011. 

Peter Camilleri, 56, his twin sons Jesrit Angel Camilleri and Peter Paul Camilleri, 21, Carren Camilleri, 31 and 46-year-old Joseph Medina, all from Zabbar were also charged with threatening officers, disobeying police orders, using obscene language in public and disturbing the peace.

Prosecuting Inspector Fabian Fleri summerised the events stating that at around 2.30am, Police officers Francis Formosa and Jurgen Zerafa were on extra duty at a wedding.

A family argument erupted when Jesrit Angel hurled abuse at a women and Police Constable Francis Formosa tried to calm the situation down. He then spotted PC Zerafa surrounded by the accused and being repeatedly punched. 

At that moment, relatives had started beating the officer after he requested Jesrit Angel's particulars. The situation escalated into a 'free for all fight'. 

PC Formosa grabbed one of the men to pull him off of his colleague. He fell backwards and someone stomped on his head and started kicking him. 

Subsequently another relative helped the police officers up onto their feet and the two walked away to radio for help. Seeing the police turn their back on them, one of the accused charged them and pushed Formosa to the ground, With the officer suffering a broken arm.

Parte Civile lawyer Stefano Filletti argued that society cannot function without police. "Citizens cannot simply assault officers because they disagree with their orders. As long as the order is legitimate, as was in this case, it is unacceptable that officers are injured while on duty", the lawyer said.

Furthermore the injuries suffered by one of the officers severely impacted his job.

The defence argued that the police evidence was peppered with inconsistencies, even in the testimony given by the victims themselves.

Moreover, although the accused released statements incriminating each other, this does not constitute a fact, as all the accused were drunk at the time of the incident.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted. Dr Stefano Filletti appeared parte civile while Lawyers Noel Cutajar, Marion Camilleri, Franco Debono and Jeffrey Vella appeared for the accused.