Jan 30 - Juvenile Jailed For Bottle Attack
A Moroccan teenager who was in Gibraltar on a short stay visa was today jailed for two years for attacking another teen with a broken bottle.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty last year to wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
The incident dates back to the night of the 11th September 2014 when the defendant was involved in a minor altercation with the victim and other youths in Commonwealth Park.
Once this ended, both the defendant and the victim (who was also in Gibraltar on a short stay visa) left the area separately. The defendant then armed himself with an empty glass bottle, broke off the end to make a sharp weapon and started searching for the victim.
He located the victim by the promenade bordering Line Wall Road next to the King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, approached him and, without warning, thrust the end of the broken bottle into his face.
In an attempt to defend himself, the victim, who was 18 at the time, raised his arms to shield his head and face and sustained a 10cm laceration to his arm which pierced the muscle layer. He also received a blow to his upper torso. The wounded victim managed to make his way to the Central Police Station in Irish Town to report the attack.
The juvenile’s lawyer, Francis Borastero-Porter, argued that his client had cooperated fully with police from the earliest stages of the investigation. He said he was remorseful and had taken steps to address his offending behavior while in prison.
Puisne Judge Karen Prescott said the wounding was premeditated and had caused serious injury. She noted that glassing incidents appeared to be on the increase in Gibraltar and said this was “a matter of concern for our small community.”
She sentenced the juvenile to two years behind bars.
Mark Clive Zammit appeared for the Crown.
