Gentleman’s club managers acquitted over savage beating of Frenchman in Paceville

A court has acquitted two managers of a gentleman’s club from assault charges after it found that there was not enough proof. One of the accused had actually tried to break up the fight in which a Frenchman was seriously injured.

Donald and Marco Bonnici had been charged with assaulting Steve Lefevre during a fight that started inside the Déjà Vu club in Paceville at around 7am on 1 October 2013. The fight spilled out onto the street.

They were also charged with breaching the peace and employing unlicensed security personnel.

A court heard how the police, responding to reports of a violent brawl, had found the Frenchman near the Burger King restaurant. He was agitated and claimed to have been beaten up. He singled out Donald Bonnici as one of his aggressors.

Mr Lefevre told police he worked as a casino supervisor on a cruise liner that was staying in port for the night and decided to spend the night in Paceville. He got into an argument with club staff when he claimed that two girls charged his credit card €400 for a lap dance that never materialised. Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, presiding over the case, noted that the Frenchman’s injuries had been certified as serious and had resulted in a permanent disability.

The court also noted that the two bouncers who were involved in the fight had been charged separately and had admitted to the charges brought before them. They had told the court that other people had been involved in the bust-up but said Donald Bonnici had tried to break up the fight.

Their version was corroborated by CCTV footage. Mr Bonnici had tried to drag the Frenchman away from his aggressors as he lay on the ground, trying to fend off the blows. But the Frenchman was caught on CCTV footage aiming a bucket of water against Mr Bonnici and shouting ‘I kill you.’

During the course of the proceedings the court also heard how Mr Lefevre had smelled of alcohol and was being aggressive to the point that officers had a tough time trying to calm him down. He had also resisted the medical stuff who took him to hospital.

In court, the Frenchman did not recognise the Bonnicis as his aggressors.

The court said the grievous bodily harm charge had not been sufficiently proven. The accused could not be found guilty of breaching the peace since they did not start the fight. The accused were also acquitted of the third charge since the bouncers had been provided by a security firm and were not employed by the brothers.

Dr Kathleen Grima appeared for Donald and Marco Bonnici. Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted.