Man hit with hammer for calling friend’s girlfriend ‘ugly’, gets suspended sentence

A man who was assaulted with a hammer after calling a friend’s girlfriend she was ugly and annoying has been handed a suspended jail term for his role in the fight.

Anthony McKay, 44, of Valletta, was also found guilty of slightly injuring Brian Buhagiar, of breaching the public peace, of damaging Buhagiar’s car, and of relapsing.

The court heard how on September 8, 2010, the accused was drinking at a bar with Brian Buhagiar, and Alan Gatt and his girlfriend. Magistrate Miriam Hayman heard that all of a sudden, McKay stood up and told Gatt’s girlfriend that she is ugly and annoying.

The woman and her boyfriend walked out of the bar after taking exception at the comments. While McKay was driving home, he received a call from an angry Buhagiar who started calling him names and also challenged him to a fight.

A fight subsequently broke out in Triq is-Santwarju, Zabbar at about 3am. During the fight, Brian Buhagiar grabbed a hammer and hit the accused, fracturing his arm in the process. Alan Gatt also punched the accused with a knuckle duster.

During the fight, the accused punched Buhagiar’s car, causing more than €200 in damage.

Brian Buhagiar is undergoing separate criminal proceedings.

In submissions for sentencing, defence lawyer Arthur Azzopardi insisted that McKay had punched Buhagiar’s car after he was assaulted, and that it was a justifiable reaction since he was in pain. However, the court dismissed the defence’s plea, arguing that notwithstanding the accused’s pain and injuries, the damages were not justified.

The court consequently handed McKay a six-month jail term suspended for a year.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted. Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi was defence counsel, while Lawyer Kris Busietta appeared for the victim in parte civile.