No bail for man charged with knocking policeman off motorcycle

34-year-old Carlo Stivala was denied bail after he appeared in court on charges of resisting, assaulting and grievously injuring a policeman who had ordered him to move his car which had been double-parked along the Gzira front, yesterday.

A 34-year-old Imsida man has been denied bail after he appeared in court on charges of resisting, assaulting and grievously injuring a policeman who had ordered him to move his car which had been double-parked along the Gzira front, yesterday.

Policeman Andrei Cassar Bonnici was thrown off his bike in a car chase that had started when he was about to issue a parking ticket to the accused, Carlo Stivala magistrate Francesco Depasquale heard today.

Stivala was charged with dangerous driving, failing to obey Police orders and damaging two vehicles, one of them a Police car, and relapsing. His request for bail was denied.

Stivala had initially pleaded not guilty, but as the sitting drew to a close, had informed defence lawyer Kathleen Grima that he wanted to admit to the charges.

Magistrate Depasquale, who had already ordered further evidence to be presented, did not uphold the request for a change of plea.