Man Pleads Not Guilty To Assaulting 3 Police Officers In Valletta

James Manfrè pleaded not guilty to a series of charges arising from the incident. He was initially brought to police attention after allegedly being involved in a fight with another man, John Pierre Farrugia.

According to the prosecution, officers intervened but Manfrè became aggressive, prompting them to restrain him and take him to police headquarters. He later fell unwell and was transferred by ambulance to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was granted police bail during treatment.

Farrugia, the other man involved in the initial fight, was separately arraigned and received a suspended sentence after admitting to grievously injuring Manfrè. Following Manfrè's discharge from hospital, an arrest warrant was issued, leading to his arraignment.

Manfrè faces charges including injuring officers in the course of their duties, resisting arrest, damaging property, and breaching bail conditions from separate proceedings.

His defence lawyers raised the question of whether Manfrè had been intoxicated at the time, noting that no breathalyser or toxicology tests were carried out as he was receiving hospital treatment. The court ordered a witness to appear at the next sitting to testify on any tests conducted at Mater Dei.