Man assaults two officers, remanded in custody

Raymond Zammit, 41 of Qormi, currently unemployed, was remanded in custody at Mt Carmel forensic unit after pleading not guilty to assaulting and slightly injuring two police officers.

Yesterday evening at around 8:10pm, police officer PC 1597 Alfred Chetcuti was patrolling the area of St Sebastian Square, Qormi when he noticed the accused in an agitated state and brandishing a knife. When the police approached him, Zammit told him he had argued with his sister and was on his way to slash her car tyres.

As the officer tried to calm the man and disarm him, Zammit took the pepper-spray from the officer and used it on him. The police officer tried to distance himself from the accused but Zammit chased after him through the adjacent roads.

Charles Dingli, an off-duty officer, saw the commotion and rushed to aid his colleague. However the accused assaulted the two officers and threatened them with his knife. The officers suffered slight injuries in the scuffle.

After an hour, the aggressive man was arrested when five officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit arrived on the scene and had to use force to control the aggressor.

The defence counsel requested the court to appoint a medical officer to examine Zammit, especially in view of lesions the accused has on his face. The accused alleged that the injuries on his face were cause by police officers, who he alleged had beat him up during the arrest. Dr Cedric Mifsud requested that the mental state of the accused be taken into consideration, as he was currently under psychiatric care.

The prosecution explained that Zammit had drug and alcohol issues, and that he had to be taken to the Detox Centre prior to being arraigned in court. While not opposing to the request for a medical expert, the prosecution asked that the same medical expert examines the two officers who also suffered injuries.

Magistrate Francesco Depasquale remanded Zammit in custody, ordering that he is kept at the Forensic Unit and given all medical support he needs. Inspector Joseph Agius prosecuted while legal aid lawyer Cedric Mifsud appeared for the accused.