Assaulted Briton charged after threatening two officers at police station

A Briton who allegedly assaulted and threatened to kill two police officers after he was beaten up by three men in Paceville on New Year’s Day was this afternoon released on bail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

Matthew Stephen Douglas-Fryer, a 35-year-old scuba diving instructor who resides in St Julian’s, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and slightly injuring two police officers, to disobeying police orders, to breaching public peace, and to being in a state of drunkenness.

The court heard that on Thursday at around 5:45am, the accused was “beaten up and assaulted” by three men. During the assault, the accused is said to have suffered a busted lip as well as injuries to his hand.

The defence also argued that during the assault, one of the assailants smashed a beer bottle on the accused, injuring him in the process. Moreover, the court heard that even though eight police officers were called in to diffuse the assault, no arrests were made, and instead, the accused was requested to file a police report at the nearby police station in St Julian’s.

Upon arriving at the police station, the Briton was incensed at the police’s decision not to arrest his aggressors.

Sources also said that when the accused was asked to wait his turn before filing his police report, he became aggressive and assaulted two police officers, slightly injuring them in the process.

During the argument, the accused is also alleged to have told the police officer “I'll kill you all,” before he was arrested and arraigned this afternoon.

Standing before Magistrate Conseuelo Scerri Herrera, the Briton pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail against a €500 deposit and a personal guarantee of €2,000. The court also ordered that a doctor be appointed to examine the injuries suffered by the accused.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted, while Magistrate Conseulo Scerri Herrera presided.