Young man arrested for carrying baton in Paceville

A young man has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to violently resisting police officers who had asked him to hand over a telescopic baton he was wielding in the streets of Paceville.

The 21-year-old from San Gwann, who cannot be named due to a court order, was arraigned before magistrate Marseanne Farrugia this afternoon following the incident which took place in St George’s Road, St Julian’s.

Prosecuting Inspector Matthew Spagnol explained how police patrolling the streets of Paceville had resolved a minor argument which had broken out between two young men in the early hours of Monday morning. The police were then informed that one of the men was carrying a weapon.

But when the officers approached him, the youth had become aggressive, resisting the officers and slightly injuring two police constables in the scuffle which ensued.

The man’s aggressive behaviour allegedly continued in hospital where he had been taken for treatment after suffering some injuries in the incident.

The accused pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring the two officers without intending to place their lives in danger, violently resisting arrest, threatening or insulting the policemen, whilst being in possession of a weapon. He was also charged with refusing to obey legitimate police orders.

The Court granted a request by the defence that it appoint a medical expert to examine and photograph the injuries suffered by the two officers and the accused himself.

Defence lawyer Alfred Abela requested bail, but this was strenuously objected to by the prosecution, who cited the young man’s lack of trustworthiness, the risk of tampering with evidence and the gravity of the alleged offences.

After hearing submissions by both parties, the court denied bail, saying the accused was untrustworthy in view of his criminal record, as well as the serious risk that he might commit another offence pending these proceedings.