Two brothers charged with stabbing man in Valletta

Two brothers have been charged with stabbing a man during an argument in Valletta last Sunday.

Brothers Sylvester James, 33, and Reginald James, 29, from Ħamrun, appeared before Magistrate Neville Camilleri yesterday morning, accused of attempting to grievous ly injury the man when they stabbed him with what is thought to have been a screwdriver. The brothers were also accused of breaching the peace.

The police have said that an argument broke out in a block of flats in the capital and that the accused allegedly went to assist a friend who was involved.

Sylvester James was separately accused of inflicting the stab wounds and carrying a sharp or pointed instrument in public without a licence or permission. His brother was separately accused of slightly injuring the man.

The court was asked to treat the men as recidivists, with Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna describing their criminal records as ‘vast’.

The accused, faces heavily tattooed, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyer, Frank Cassar, requested bail. The prosecution objected due to the fact that civilian witnesses – among them the victim and his wife – had not yet testified.

The charges were ‘not serious enough’ to require their continued detention, rebutted the lawyer. Bail could be granted under very strict conditions, he said, adding that they could even be held under house arrest, “but not prison just because of a fear that they could speak with witnesses.”

Magistrate Camilleri disagreed, however, denying their request for bail due to the circumstances of the case and the nature of the charges. The court said it was not convinced that the accused would abide by the bail conditions imposed on them. The fact that the injured party was yet to testify was also a factor in the decision, the magistrate said.

The prosecution was invited to summon its witnesses at the first opportunity.