Acquitted of scarring man’s face

Noel Farrugia, 35 of Msida, was acquitted of scaring Dennis Cremona's face with a 'dog chain necklace', after the victim insisted it was not him who injured him.

Prosecuting inspector Tony Cachia said that on 25 April 2010, Cremona filed a police report saying that while he staying at his friend's residence in Qormi, Farrugia entered the house alleging that he had stolen his laptop, and then proceeded to hit him with a blade hanging from what he described as a "dog chain necklace".

After being on the list of wanted people for a number of days, Farrugia turned himself in for questioning.

He denied injuring Cremona, but suggested that Cremona had damaged the property of Carmelo Zammit, known as 'il-Qus', when he demanded that Zammit pay some debt. He alleged that Cremona damaged the bannisters in Zammit's house's staircase, smashed household items and assaulted Zammit.

"I went to the residence together with four others to help Zammit. I know nothing about any missing laptops, and around my neck I carry a necklace with a cross, not a blade on a dog chain."

In court however, Cremona claimed it was not the accused who injured him in the face, but that it could have been any of the other five men who assaulted him. "I was assaulted by five men and have no idea who cut my face," the victim said.

Reminded by the prosecution that he had specifically indicated Farrugia in his police report, the victim stated he was sure it was not Farrugia and that he had no recollection of what he told the police, as at the time he was high on drugs.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli acquitted the accused.

Inspector Tony Cachia prosecuted while lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for Noel Farrugia.