Man released on bail after movie-style car chase
A victim of a recent arson attempt has been released on bail after allegedly giving chase to the suspected mastermind behind the attack in what has been described as a movie-style car chase.
Paul Mallia, 36, appeared before Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera yesterday after he was captured on footage ramming a car driven by Sage Gauci. The footage, which was exhibited in court, shows a black vehicle, allegedly driven by Mallia, chasing and ramming a smaller car twice.
Gauci, 18, from Valletta, is himself currently out on bail on charges of being in possession of 10 kilos of cannabis. He was Mallia’s number one suspect after the latter found the front door of his home on fire in the early hours of Monday.
Mallia pleaded not guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm, voluntary damage to third-party property and reckless driving. He was also accused of committing the offences during the operative period of a suspended sentence.
The court was told that Mallia had instinctively chased Gauci when he spotted him driving by.
Prosecuting officer Inspector James Grech denounced the “Wild West attitude” of the accused as he objected to the defence’s request for bail.
The accused’s release would cause danger to the victim and his family, argued the police inspector.
However, lawyers Franco Debono and Gianluca Caruana Curran, appearing parte civile for the victims, informed the court that they had no problem with the man being released on bail as long as he did not communicate in any manner or approach their client and his relatives.
Magistrate Scerri Herrera upheld the request for bail against a deposit of €500 and a personal guarantee of €2000. A curfew was also imposed. The court additionally ordered the man to sign the bail book twice a week and to avoid all contact with prosecution witnesses.
A Protection Order was issued in favour of Gauci.
Inspector Kylie Borg assisted in the prosecution, while lawyers Francois Dalli and Jean Karl Farrugia were defence counsel.