Valletta assault on police: inspector recounts punches and death threats in court
A Msida man faces 16 charges after allegedly punching a police inspector three times and threatening to kill officers in Valletta. He has since apologised through his lawyers.
Msida man on 16 charges after violent clash with officers in Valletta
A police inspector told a Maltese court on Friday how a routine welfare check in Valletta ended with him being punched three times and threatened with death, maltatoday.com.mt reports.
James Manfre, 32, from Msida, faces 16 charges stemming from an incident on 30 September. The charges include assaulting and injuring police officers, resisting arrest, damaging public property, and breaching bail conditions linked to separate criminal proceedings. Manfre has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Inspector Roderick Attard testified during the first sitting of the compilation of evidence before Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil, describing how an attempt to help an injured man rapidly escalated into a violent confrontation.
Officers stopped to assist — then faced aggression
Attard explained he had been travelling to court with two fellow officers in a police vehicle when a man approached them in St Mark Street, Valletta, and reported a nearby fight. The officers stopped and found a young man with blood covering his face, particularly around his eyes.
The inspector said he recognised the man through his father and approached him to find out what had happened. The man identified himself as James and told officers he had been assaulted by two Serbian nationals.
Attard noted that Manfre appeared to have been drinking — there was a strong smell of alcohol — and the accused acknowledged this himself. Whilst the two other officers worked to establish the circumstances of the reported altercation, Attard stayed with Manfre and offered to arrange medical assistance.
Despite efforts to keep the situation calm, the accused grew increasingly hostile, pushing Attard and another officer. Concerned for everyone's safety, Attard told Manfre he would need to be restrained with handcuffs.
Inspector punched and bitten
The situation deteriorated. According to the inspector's testimony, Manfre accused the officers of filming him and repeatedly tried to provoke a physical confrontation. As Attard attempted to apply the handcuffs, the accused bit him and then struck him several times in the head.
One blow knocked the inspector's police cap off and sent the badge from his uniform to the ground. Attard told the court he sustained a bleeding head injury after being hit approximately three times.
Manfre allegedly directed insults at the officers throughout and threatened to kill them all.
As Manfre continued advancing aggressively, Attard drew his police baton and issued repeated orders to stop. Rather than comply, the accused raised his fist and kept challenging the inspector. A second officer then deployed pepper spray, causing Manfre to sit on a nearby doorstep and rub his eyes. Attard said he subsequently took the spray from his colleague and used it again. Manfre eventually got up and walked away, whilst Attard said the spray had also affected him.
The inspector called for reinforcements. Officers who arrived at the scene arrested Manfre in a neighbouring street.
Attard stressed to the court that the confrontation had started after police had tried to help the accused by offering to call an ambulance.
Defence questions accused's awareness
During cross-examination, the defence questioned Attard about Manfre's state of mind and whether he appeared capable of understanding what was happening around him at the time.
The inspector maintained he had detected a strong smell of alcohol but could not confirm whether the accused had consumed any other substances, and he did not rule out that possibility. Asked whether Manfre became more coherent as time passed, Attard said the accused appeared to understand certain police instructions but deliberately chose not to follow them.
He recalled Manfre's reaction when told he was going to be handcuffed — the accused responded defiantly and clenched his fist. Although he appeared to grasp what the officers were saying, Attard said, he continued to resist.
Apology offered without admission of guilt
Following the cross-examination, Manfre's defence lawyers informed the court that their client wished to apologise for the incident. The apology was made without any admission of guilt and without prejudice to his defence.
Through his legal team, Manfre expressed regret and conveyed his respect for the police and their duties.
The prosecution is being conducted by Inspector Abigail Pomroy, together with lawyers from the Attorney General's Office, Justine Brincat and Joseph Camilleri Azarov. Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Adreana Zammit are appearing for the accused.
Source: Times of Malta