Friday, September 29, 2017

12 years later: Gunshot victim cleared of bodily harm charges

A man shot twice during an argument with his neighbour 12 years ago was found by a court to have acted in self-defence.

Franky Cini had been accused of attempted homicide and illegal possession of a firearm, with the charges later downgraded to grievous bodily harm and causing criminal damage to Joseph Portelli's car. 

The case goes back to 25 July, 2005, when the then 24-year-old Cini hit a car owned by Portelli's daughter while selling vegetables from a van in Żebbuġ, Gozo.

The daughter had called her father to the scene and the two men were involved in an argument.

Cini ended up being shot in the abdomen and was in danger of dying, while Portelli suffered stab wounds which experts concluded were probably caused by a screwdriver.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud said the case had dragged on for 12 years, and in 53 sittings "nothing had happened".

Magistrate Mifsud declared Mr Cini to be innocent of the charge of grievous bodily harm and instead found him guilty only of involuntary damage, for which he was fined €500.

 



from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2fW6uPp
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