Chef who glassed pub reveller after hearing bad news avoids jail

COURT: Man’s sister had called to let him know his cousin had been murdered

A French chef who glassed an innocent reveller after he bumped into him in a Scottish pub has avoided jail.

The assault by Ali Nacibi-Zerigue occurred in the Victoria Cafe in St Andrews as he took a call from his sister in his homeland who told him his cousin has been shot dead in the Paris terror attacks.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Algerianborn violinist Kheireddine Sahbi was “effectively a brother” to the accused as he had grown up with him following a previous family tragedy.

At the very moment Nacibi-Zerigue was told of the terror attack clubber Dylan Muir, 19, bumped in to him.

As Mr Muir turned to apologise for the innocuous action the Frenchman swung either a glass or a bottle and smashed it into the victim’s face.

Depute fiscal Kirsten Letford told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Around 1.30am the complainer and friends were on the dancefloor when he bumped into the accused while the accused was on the phone.

“As he turned to apologise the accused struck him with a glass object.

“Blood was immediately pouring from a head wound on Mr Muir.

“Bouncers followed and approached the accused and he was shortly after detained by police.

“He was taken to police HQ in Dundee where he was cautioned and charged.

“He replied ‘I don’t do something wrong’.

“The complainer suffered a 4cm laceration to his forehead and received six stitches. “It has left a visible scar to this day.” Nacibi Zerigue, 28, of Cumlodden Drive, Glasgow, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assaulting Dylan Muir to his injury and permanent disfigurement on November 14 2015.

Defence solicitor Edward Robertson said: “His sister was calling him to tell him his cousin had been killed in the Paris terror attacks.

“The terror attacks had taken place earlier that night.

“His cousin was effectively a brother to him. The accused was born in France but following a family tragedy grew up in Algeria with his aunt and uncle.

“This case is, of course, a serious matter and he is aware it is the kind of thing often dealt with by custody.”

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael imposed a community payback order with 160 hours of unpaid work and 18 months of supervision and ordered NacibiZerigue to pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim.

As he turned to apologise the accused struck him with a glass object. Blood was immediately pouring from a head wound on Mr Muir. KIRSTEN LETFORD DEPUTE FISCAL