A tourist who smashed furniture in his room and insulted police officers has been jailed for 19 months, fined €1,200 and ordered to pay €5,636.25 in damages.
The incident happened on February 14 when David Roger Grima, 34, a Canadian national, was staying at ‘Ta’ Bertu’, a bed and breakfast in Żurrieq.
Police inspector Wayne Bonello testified that when police officers arrived at the scene, Grima was uncooperative and threw objects at them. He shouted at the police to “f* off” and resisted arrest. A sergeant eventually needed to use his taser gun. Grima was then taken to Mater Dei Hospital and later to Mount Carmel Hospital. He was discharged on March 13, and arrested. He was also certified fit for interrogation.
Property owner Violet Muscat said she heard a lot of coughing, moaning and shouting in Grima’s room. She then found him lying face down. She asked him if he needed anything and told him the restroom was nearby.
Grima continued to shout, cough and throw up. He grabbed the mattress and started shaking it. He eventually started throwing furniture around and down the stairs into the hall. He smashed the legs of a table.
The defence argued that Grima did not intend to commit the alleged crime. His behaviour was not normal, and he was unaware of what he was doing.
However, the court observed that defence counsel did not request the appointment of a psychiatrist to examine the mental state of the accused at the time of the alleged offences. There was no evidence in the proceedings confirming a lack of mental capacity.
The court said it had been established that Grima uttered offensive language towards the police officers. This resulted from the testimony of various officers and bodycam footage. It was not easy to control the accused, who was already behaving aggressively before the police arrived. The police only managed to bring him under control after he broke a door and they used the taser gun on him. This, however, was insufficient to find the accused guilty of assaulting the officers.
The court found Grima guilty of vilifying the officers, causing damage to the bed and breakfast in excess of €2,500 and disobeying lawful police orders.
He was sentenced to 19-months in jail and fined €1,200. A restraining order was issued in favour of the property owners. Grima was also ordered to pay €5,636.25 in damages within ten months of the judgement.
Magistrate Giannella Camilleri Busuttil presided. Police inspector Wayne Bonello prosecuted. Legal aid lawyer Nadya Fiott assisted the accused while lawyer Arthur Azzopardi appeared parte civile.
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