Man admits to grievous bodily harm charge after New Year's Day fight

A delivery man from Fgura has pleaded guilty to grievously injuring a man in a fight on 1 January.

Somali-born Mohamed Omar Bare, 25, appeared in the dock before magistrate Francesco Depasquale this afternoon, accused of causing grievous bodily harm to the man, who is thought to be a fellow Somali.

No details as to what happened and why emerged in court today other than that the altercation took place in Triq Sant' Antnin, Fgura at around 8pm on new year’s day.

After the court was told that the victim had forgiven the accused and didn’t want proceedings to continue, lawyer Martin Fenech, legal aid to the accused, said that the man was pleading guilty. “It was a fight between two people. It was an incident where one person simply got hit more than the other,” said the lawyer. 

Prosecuting police Inspector Sarah Zerafa confirmed that the injured party had forgiven the accused and was withdrawing any complaint against him, but pointed out that the police were legally constrained to continue with the prosecution in view of the nature of the accusations made.

She asked the court to issue a protection order in favour of the injured man.

The man confirmed his admission of guilt, after being given time to reconsider.

The court, noting the injured party’s wish to withdraw his criminal complaint, condemned Bare to imprisonment for one year, suspended for three years and ordered him not to communicate with the injured party in any way for one year.