A 74-year-old man was charged with assault and threats after a heated parking argument. The court acquitted him on all charges due to conflicting evidence and a delayed medical certificate.
Court of Magistrates (Malta) — Criminal · Magistrate Dr. Monica Vella LL.D., M. Jur. · 18 March 2026
On a November evening in Żejtun, Jean Paul Deguara parked in front of Francis Spiteri's garage. Spiteri — a 74-year-old man — came out to confront him. What started as a parking disagreement escalated into a shouting match involving Deguara, his brother, and his sister. The prosecution alleged that Spiteri threatened Deguara with a hard object, used insulting language, struck him causing injury, and disturbed public peace. Spiteri denied everything, saying it was the Deguara brothers who had been aggressive and that he had retreated into his own garage. The case turned on two problems. First, the medical certificate documenting Deguara's injury was obtained five days after the incident — leaving open the question of how and when the injury actually occurred. Second, while Jean Paul and his brother Matthew said Spiteri used threatening language, the other two prosecution witnesses — sister Denise and a neighbour — did not support this claim. When witnesses contradict each other and medical evidence has a five-day gap, the prosecution cannot prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court acquitted Spiteri on every single charge.
Francis Spiteri: Acquitted and discharged on all 4 charges. No penalty.
Criminal Code Ch. 9 — assault, threatening behaviour, breach of peace