Distraught man takes off trousers in court after bail was denied

A man accused of threatening to kill a neighbour pulled down his trousers, apparently in protest, after a court denied his request for bail due to the risk of him suborning witnesses

The court heard how the accused had threatened the man, his neighbour, after a mobile phone went missing
The court heard how the accused had threatened the man, his neighbour, after a mobile phone went missing

A man pleading not guilty to threatening to kill a neighbour has threatened to end his own life over being refused bail, also removing his trousers in a bizarre courtroom protest, earlier today.

22-year-old Somali national, Maxamed Cabdi Xasan, was arraigned before magistrate Francesco Depasquale this morning, accused of threatening and insulting another Somali man, causing him to fear that violence would be used against him, and relapsing.

The court heard how the accused had threatened the man, his neighbour, after a mobile phone went missing.

Sources told the MaltaToday that the accused had come home drunk on Tuesday night and was unable to find his mobile phone. Suspecting the culprit to be the person living in the San Gwann apartment opposite his, they said Xasan had confronted him with a knife.

The neighbour had gone to the police station to report that the accused had threatened him with knife. The accused had followed the man to the police station. When asked by police officers whether he had threatened the other man, Xasan is understood to have told the police that he would “kill him.”

In court today, Xasan repeatedly insisted with the court in broken English that he had only threatened to kill the man in the heat of the moment, after seeing him wearing shoes similar to a pair that had been stolen from him.

“I lose my stuff, I lose my freedom since yesterday because of him.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested bail. But when that request was not upheld due to the risk of him suborning witnesses, Xasan became distraught.

“How I go prison? They stole my phone from my house...Jail goes to my brain. I did nothing. I have my rights, how can you tell me I’m going to jail. I go to jail, I die. I just told him 'I kill you,' you know how water gets when it boils. I’m sorry. I can’t believe this. You decide I’m under arrest. I’m crazy.” [sic]

“No, no impossible, they arrested me for no reason. I lost my stuff,” the accused said, before pulling down his tracksuit bottoms, apparently in protest. Police officers hustled him into a corner of the courtroom, where, after breaking into loud sobs, he eventually regained his composure and dressed himself.

He started to struggle with the police again once outside the courtroom.

“I have my rights. If I am under arrest, I will kill myself. I don't want to sleep in jail for one minute. I have my rights,” Xasan was heard shouting at the officers. His plaintive screams continued as he was led down a stairwell to the court lockup.

Police said the stolen phone did not turn up in a search of the neighbour's apartment.