Valletta lift operator punches German for ‘pride and country’

A Valletta lift operator admits to punching German who refused to pay €1 fee, and insulted Malta and the Maltese.

The lift in Valletta where the incident allegedly took place.
The lift in Valletta where the incident allegedly took place.

Magistrate Carol Peralta is to decide Tuesday as to what punishment Mario Antonelli, 45 of Valletta, will get for punching a German national who refused to pay the admission fee for the Valletta barakka lift.

Antonelli, a Transport Malta employee who operated the Valletta Lift, admitted to having punched a German national who refused to pay the €1 fee and for "insulting Malta and the Maltese".

Antonelli was charged with assaulting Dr Michael Mertch, the chief technology officer at GO plc, and injuring him in the face with a punch that broke his glasses.

Mertch claimed that the damage to his 'handmade' French spectacles cost some €350, prompting defence lawyer Josè Herrera to pay out the whole amount in cash inside the courtroom on behalf of the accused, despite Magistrate Peralta's remark that the cost of the spectacles was "ridiculous".

Herrera said that while his client recognised the fact that he had overreacted, and that his actions were to be deplored, he explained that Antonelli punched Mertch "when he started to offend Malta and the Maltese".

"Mertch refused to pay the €1 fee because he claimed to have paid enough taxes in Malta, and then went on to say disparaging remarks towards Malta and the Maltese. It was then that Antonelli punched the German," Herrera told the court.

While Herrera said that the incident was captured on CCTV camera, the Police said they had not seen the footage yet, and did not know whether footage even contains any audio. On his part, Magistrate Peralta said that he wanted to see the footage before decide on the punishment.

Mertch meanwhile denied ever passing any remarks insulting Malta or Maltese nationals.

avatar
If Mr Antonelli punched the German for insulting Malta and the Maltese then he doen't deserve to be punished but honoured. What would have happened if Mr Antonelli was in Germany and offened Germany and the Germans? Do the Germans still think that they are the Elite Race? Go help the world if Germany had to rule it. Is this another examples of european brotherhood "Insulting your colleagues and refusing to pay whats due" ? Don't people pay in Germany for services?