Bystanders acquitted of ripping off car door and assaulting motorist

A court has acquitted two men who had been accused of assaulting a motorist and ripping off his car door following a minor traffic accident in Paola.

Stephen Piscopo, 44, of Vittoriosa and Justin Gouder, 26,from Cospicua, had denied attacking and slightly injuring David Zammit and damaging his car on 6 January 2016. Zammit had alleged that Piscopo and Gouder had caused damaged to his car and assaulted him.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, presiding a Paola district sitting, had been shown a sworn affidavit signed by a Police Sergeant in which he explained how he had responded to reports of an altercation on Sir Paul Boffa Avenue, Paola.

At the scene he had found Sergio and Maryonn Falzon, who had told him that while they were driving up Paul Boffa Avenue in their Hyundai, a car driven by Zammit had overtaken their vehicle and clipped their right wing mirror.

Maryonn Falzon had told the police that when she had got out of the car to speak with Zammit and see what had been damaged, he had started shouting at her. When she had walked towards the front of Zammit’s car to take down his number plate, Zammit's car, an automatic, had driven forward but had not hit her.

It was at this point, that Gouder, Piscopo and a woman, claimed to have heard the commotion from behind them and had approached the scene. Upon seeing the trio approaching, Zammit had allegedly tried to drive away, in the process driving his car onto Stephen Piscopo, who ended up pinned under the car.

The sergeant had been told that in the ensuing confusion, Zammit had been punching the door of his own car in an effort to get it open, he had also punched Gouder in the head. A breathalyser test carried out on Zammit found him to have been under the influence of alcohol, despite his claim of having only taken one or two beers.

Zammit had alleged that two bystanders, Piscopo and Gouder, had caused damaged to his car and assaulted him.

The defence pointed out that Zammit had told police that Gouder and Piscopo had ripped off his car door, but had not brought any evidence to support this claim.

Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, presiding over the case, ruled that there was insufficient evidence to find Stephen Piscopo or Justin Gouder guilty of the charges brought against them.

Zammit failed to appear for yesterday's sitting in a related case against him and is expected to be arrested.

Inspector Spiridione Zammit prosecuted. Lawyer Stefano Filletti appeared for the defendants.