Two men acquitted of attempted homicide

Two men charged with the attempted murder of Josef Grech, the founder of a controversial 'Dom Mintoff Foundation', were acquitted of the charge but conditionally discharged of threatening the alleged victim and injuring him.

John Vassallo, 63, and his 26-year-old son Johann Vassallo, both of Dingli, were charged with the attempted murder of Grech, detaining him against his will, threatening him and causing him slight injuries, and breaching the public peace.

The father was also charged with carrying a pointed weapon without the necessary permit.

On 5 June 2011, the grandfather of a 16-year old girl called Grech, insinuating the girl had ran away from home and went to him. To prove the girl's family wrong, Grech went to look for her in a public garden in Mtarfa.

There he met the girl's grandfather and uncle, who chased him with a sickle. When the two caught up with him, he was kicked him to the ground and a white nylon cord was tied around his neck, with the aggressors telling him they would tie the other end to the van and drive off.

Moments later, police officers arrived on site and calmed the three men down. In the brawl, the witness suffered slight injuries.

Grech claimed his relationship with Vassallo's niece was not sexual and that her mother had allowed them to share the same bed at her home. In the last sitting, he renounced charges against his aggressors and was not interested in the continuation of the case.

Magistrate Carol Peralta ruled that the charge of attempted murder had not been proven. The charges of causing the victim slight injuries and detaining him against his will were declared extinguished when the victim renounced to the charges. John and Johann Vassallo were acquitted of these charges.

However the court convicted the two men on two charges. John Vassallo was also found guilty of carrying an unlicensed weapon and injuring Grech with it. He was conditionally discharged for six months. The girl’s uncle Johann Vassallo was handed a two-week conditional discharge for threatening the victim

The victim, Josef Grech of Rabat, 32, is the founder of a controversial 'Dom Mintoff Foundation', the author of a biography of the late premier and known to the police in connection with various cases of fraud.

Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted, while lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are appearing for the Vassallos.