Man with pregnant girlfriend punches Mater Dei security officer over parking row

A 30-year-old man who was taking his heavily pregnant girlfriend to Mater Dei Hospital has been conditionally discharged for three years after pleading guilty to punching and grievously injuring a security official over a parking row.

The incident occurred this morning at around 9:30 am, when the accused, Josef Friggieri, of Birzebbugia, took his pregnant girlfriend to the Mater Dei emergency, when a parking row ensued, ending with Friggieri punching security officer Raymond Leonardi in the face.

Sources close to the case said the argument started when Friggieri parked in front of an electrical fire panel at the hospital parking. Upon seeing this, the security official approached the accused, and told him to move his vehicle as this would block the fire panel.

An argument then ensued between the security official and the accused, while insults were also traded, including insults against the security officer's mother.

The argument then reached boiling point when the accused punched Leonardi in the face, causing him grievous injuries to his mouth – which as the court heard, required stitches.

On his part, the accused told police that upon parking his vehicle, the security guard approached him and started shouting at him and insulting him. Allegedly, the two then traded insults before the security officer “confronted him aggressively,” and the accused punched him in his face.

Defence lawyer Jason Grima told the court that the accused was in panic because of his pregnant girlfriend, and also insisted that it was “an unfortunate incident.” Moreover, he claimed that the accused only punched Leonardi after the latter “confronted him in an aggressive manner.”

Standing before the court this morning, the man pleaded guilty to grievously injuring the security official, and of breaching public peace.

In its decree, the court noted that the man apologised for his actions, and that he has a clean criminal record. Presiding Magistrate Josette Demicoli conditionally discharged the man for three years, and warned him not to approach the victim.

The security officer will be arraigned in court in the coming days to face separate criminal proceedings.

Inspector Jason Francis Sultana prosecuted, while Lawyer Jason Grima represented the accused.