Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532358
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 FEBRUARY 2025 2 KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt A man who threatened the same police officers he called in to his home, has been jailed for two months and fined €3,000. Magistrate Marse-Ann Farru- gia who handed down the sen- tence, found the accused guilty of animal cruelty and assaulting police officers. The magistrate noted the accused, Joseph Zahra, had a criminal record which con- tained "a litany of different of- fences" and was 109 pages long. The court heard how on 2 November 2019, the accused had requested the police's help, saying his son, with whom he had disagreements, was going to his home and there would be issues. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Zahra ar- guing with his son. But during the ordeal, the accused ended up threatening the same of- ficers he had called in, and was subsequently arrested. His son reported Joseph Zahra to the police, saying there were birds in a bad stated. Investi- gations led to the police find- ing birds being kept in bad and dirty conditions. Birds were al- so found dead. Magistrate Marse-Ann Far- rugia handed the accused two months imprisonment and fined him. The prosecution was led by Superintendent Melvyn Camilleri. Man jailed after threatening the same police officers he called in for help Man who threatened the police officers he called in to assist him at his home jailed for two months and fined €3,000 THE European Union has vowed to take "firm and proportion- ate measures" in response to US-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. This comes just hours after US president Donald Trump announced a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium en- tering the US. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariffs unjustified, and vowed a prompt response. Von der Leyen's home country of Germany is possibly one of the biggest victims of such tariffs, as the US is a major importer of its steel and aluminium output. On Tuesday, she was also scheduled to meet US vice president, JD Vance. During the first Trump presidency, the EU had responded to similar tariffs with their own, taxing €2.8 billion worth of US goods such as jeans, Harley Davidson motorcycles, and bourbon. On Tuesday morning, MEPs discussed the tariffs, as many of them condemned the crushing economic punch and Trump. He was widely described as a bully, with MEPs say- ing that the bloc should not buckle and bend to his will. The EU is not the first target of Trump's tariffs during his second term. During the past few weeks, he announced tar- iffs against Canada and Mexico. During an informal summit of EU leaders in anticipation of the tariffs, Prime Minister Robert Abela called for the reten- tion of a strong relationship between the EU and the US in light of Donald Trump's second term. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariffs unjustified, and vowed a prompt response EU promises swift response to US tariffs on bloc's aluminium and steel Christ Gatt, 24, identified as victim of fatal Kirkop tunnels accident US president Donald Trump announced a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US 24-YEAR-OLD Christ Gatt from Mtarfa has been identi- fied as the victim of a fatal car crash at the Kirkop tunnels on Monday night. Police said the accident hap- pened at around 9pm in Triq l-Ewwel Titjira, Ħal Luqa. Preliminary investigations showed the victim, who was driving a grey BMW, lost con- trol of the vehicle, crashed into a central strip barrier, and ended up smashing into a concrete structure on the op- posite lane. Police, a medical team and Civil Protection Department officials were rushed to the site of the accident, but the driver was certified dead at the site of the accident. A 24-year-old passenger, al- so from Mtarfa, was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, and has been certified as suffering from grievous injuries. Duty magistrate Joe Mifsud has launched an inquiry, and has instructed experts to as- sist him. Police investigations are ongoing. Earlier this year, 25-year-old Alejandro Brincat, also from Mtarfa, died after crashing into a metal signpost at Triq l-Mdina, Attard. A 36-year-old Italian man died after colliding into a wall in Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli. A 24-year-old Nepalese woman died after she was struck by a pick-up truck in Fgura last month. Christ Gatt (inset) was killed in a road accident on Monday evening