Factory burglar beaten by owner and son

Magistrate Josette Demicoli was told how company director Daniel Farrugia, 35, of Attard allegedly beat up the “intruder” in the afternoon of the 9th of May this year.

Farrugia was charged with grievously injuring Charles Spiteri and relapsing, police alleging that he had hit Spiteri on the head with a wooden plank after finding him in his family's factory.

At the time of the break-in at the factory in Kordin industrial estate, Farrugia had been accompanied his father, Louis. The older man is also alleged to have pointed a pistol at Spiteri and allegedly fired a warning shot.

Three RIU officers testified that they had responded to a report that a man had been caught inside a factory by its owners. Upon their arrival, the officers found the intruder, Spiteri, bleedings from a wound to the head, flanked by the father and son.

Spiteri had told police about the pistol, allegedly pointed at him by the elder Farrugia, but when searched by police, no weapons were found. A subsequent search of Louis Farrugia’s Pajero, which had been parked outside the factory, had recovered a pistol and shotgun - both unloaded - hidden under a seat.

Farrugia’s lawyer, Gavin Gulia, pointed out that Spiteri had no legitimate reason to visit the factory, being neither its owner nor an employee. The Farrugias were not expecting visitors, added the lawyer.

Prosecuting inspector Joseph Mercieca and Spiridione Zammit told magistrate Demicoli that when questioned by police, Spiteri had claimed that he had heard “noises” emanating from inside the factory and had gone to find out what was causing them.

An altercation then took place after Spiteri was discovered inside the factory by the accused and his father, in which Spiteri came off second best, sustaining head injuries classified as grievous. The men then called the police.

Although Spiteri had claimed that Farrugia’s father had fired a warning shot, no cartridge cases were recovered from the scene. The prosecution also confirmed that the accused had reported the theft of a number of items from the factory to the police in the run-up to the May incident.

It is understood that Spiteri will be also charged in connection with the incident. In spite of being notified, Spiteri did not appear in court today - a fact which did not go down well with the court. He was declared to be in contempt of court, fined €100 and ordered to be escorted to the next sitting by the police.

The case continues in December.