Man accused of grievously injuring Marsaskala woman

The court pointed out that Sherfid had a previous conviction dating back to the 80s.

A man accused of grievously injuring a woman in Marsaskala on Wednesday evening has been released on bail after pleading not guilty to the charges.

Libyan Ahmed Sherfid, 36, from Zabbar denied all eight of the charges brought against him, which also included threatening the victims – two women and a man – with physical violence, insulting them, causing a public disturbance during the night time, taking up weapons against them, criminal damage and misuse of electronic communications equipment.

The prosecution objected to defence lawyer Mark Vassallo's request for bail. In the case that the court felt that the accused merited being granted bail, the prosecution insisted that Sherfid be placed under a curfew, prohibited from going to Marsaskala and that a protection order be issued for the other parties.

This was a one-off incident, said the lawyer, adding that measures to keep the parties at a distance from each other should be put in place to ensure it stayed that way.

Sherfid's sister, Grace, was summoned to the stand.

“He's a good man, never had any brushes with the law. I promise to follow his progress and check on him regularly,” the woman told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja earnestly. 

The court pointed out that Sherfid had a previous conviction dating back to the 80s. There was a responsibility involved, the magistrate warned the accused.

“If you breach the conditions of bail, you will not only bring trouble on to your head but on to your sister's too.”

Sherfid was granted bail, on condition that he sign a bail book three times a week, observe a curfew and against a guarantee €4,000 secured by his sister and a personal guarantee of €4,000.