Man lands seven month sentence for injuring police officer

Shaun Demicoli, 34 of Birzebbugia was today jailed for seven months after the court found him guilty to causing injuries to a police officer and assaulting another officer in Pretty Bay, Birzebbugia.

Prosecuting inspector Priscilla Caruana told the court how in the afternoon of 18 December 2011, the accused was at the Birzebbugia Football Club with his friends when someone informed them that police officers were issuing traffic contraventions outside the club.

Demicoli was parked in a space reserved for disabled people and rushed out of the club where he yelled that he would remove the vehicle, however the officer had already issued the citation.

When Demicoli got to his car, he punched the officer Silvan Pulis on the left side of his face, knocking off the officer's hat. The officer also dropped the citations book.

After being punched, Constable Pulis informed his sergeant of what happened, earning him another punch in the face from the accused. Throughout the assault Demicoli was swearing loudly, insulting and threatening the officer, the court was told.

As other officers arrived on the scene, the man was arrested and taken to the Birzebbugia police station. While in custody he assaulted a police sergeant and repeatedly hit the station's walls.

The sergeant said the accused tugged at his uniform jersey and was constantly swearing and threatening officers.

Taking the witness stand the accused said that he has a 7% disability but does not have a blue sticker. He confirmed he was parked on a reserved space but denied assaulting the officer. "I took the ticket from the officer's hands and he dropped his book, but I did not hit him", he told the court.

Magistrate Neville Camilleri found the accused guilty of assaulting a police officer, slightly injuring PC Silvan Pulis and breaching public peace and order. Demicoli was jailed for seven months and ordered him not to approach the two officers.

The court held that a message should be sent that police officers are there to protect the citizens and should not be made to fear their duties.

"The court will protect officers and will not accept any violence against them, especially during the course of their duties", the Magistrate said. The court held that any behaviour similar to that of the accused would not be tolerated.