Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/567863
2 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 SEptEmbEr 2015 News Man head-butted police officer Continued froM Page 1 When Bauduin entered the police sta- tion he kept shouting "racist" and "racism" before walking out of the station. Whilst he was being searched the accused began to struggle violently and ended up headbut- ting a police sergeant, slightly injuring him. A French ID card was found on his person and his identity was confirmed from this document. The man was charged with showing disrespect to the Presi- dent, using violence against a public officer, disobeying a legitimate police order and breaching the peace, but the charges relating to the struggle were dropped during the sit- ting. The accused, wearing an olive green t-shirt and camouf lage cargo shorts, standing with his hands in his pockets, replied that he lacked the financial means to appoint a lawyer of his own choosing. The court ap- pointed lawyer Martin Fenech as legal aid. Speaking in broken English, although assisted by a transla- tor, the accused pleaded guilty and apologised for his actions. Asked to confirm his guilt, he said he was and then attempted to say what sounded like "it was a very small headbutt" before being interrupted by his lawyer. "He is pleading guilty, your honour," said Fenech. "The important thing is that you don't repeat it," said the magistrate. Bauduin was sentenced to three months in prison, sus- pended for two years. The court explained the import of the sen- tence to the accused. Man tells court cannabis 'cured his cancer' 37-year-old marko petti was arraigned on charges of cannabis cultivation and possession Matthew agius EyEBroWS were raised in court yesterday, when an Italian man told a magistrate that cannabis had cured him from cancer. Inspector Jonathan Cassar ar- raigned 37-year-old Italian Marko Petti on charges of cannabis culti- vation and possession. Cassar told Magistrate Josette Demicoli that the accused, who lives in Birkirkara, had refused to consult a lawyer during interroga- tion. Lawyer Martin Fenech, appear- ing as legal aid to the accused, ex- plained the charges to him. "I am guilty of cultivating can- nabis for my treatment," replied the Italian. "I don't smoke it, I make biscuits and butter with the extract. I don't smoke it, I know it's illegal but the most important thing is that I stay alive. I am not stupid," he replied. The accused explained that he had been diagnosed with cancer in the past and had cultivated the plants as part of his treatment. over time the tumour disap- peared, he claimed. "I had gone to a doctor in Amer- ica and he had opened my mind to the realisation that these natural remedies were better than chem- otherapy. In fact I did not use chemo or pills for the tumour. I am still alive today." The inspector confirmed that the accused had said the same thing in his statement. Inspector Cassar said that a pris- on sentence was ideal as the man "is an expert in cannabis cultiva- tion" and because it was clear that upon release, Petti would resume his activities. Asked by the court, the inspec- tor conceded that the investiga- tion had showed that Petti was growing marijuana solely for his personal consumption. The court sentenced Petti to six months' imprisonment and fined him €450. The magistrate ordered that the prison authorities grant him access to whatever treatment he needs. Man jailed for sex with 15-year-old girl 20-year-old Neil Cutajar was charged with participating in sexual activities with a minor and possessing indecent images of her Matthew agius A 20-year-old man from San Gwann who admitted in court to having sex with a 15-year-old girl has been jailed for three years. Neil Cutajar was arraigned yes- terday afternoon by Inspectors roderick Spiteri and Matthew Spagnol, who charged him with participating in sexual activi- ties with a minor and of being in possession of indecent images of the girl. Cutajar was also charged with causing wilful damage to property. The accused was, on his own insistence, unassisted during the proceedings. Magistrate Jo- sette Demicoli offered to appoint a legal aid lawyer several times, but the accused insisted, "I have no need for a lawyer. I am guilty and I do not feel the need for le- gal aid." Inspector Spagnol explained that the Valletta police had been informed that a fight was taking place in their locality. Upon ar- riving at the scene, officers found a group of girls who told them that there had been an argument involving the accused, at which point the youngest girl in the group came forward and shout- ed, "he raped me!" He clarified that Cutajar was also being charged with having caused damage to the police lock- up in which he had been held. Given his lack of defence coun- sel, the court went out of its way to point out his rights, carefully explaining the charges and their implications to the accused, also informing him of what was hap- pening at every stage of the hear- ing. "I admit that I had sex with her, but it was consensual," said the accused calmly. "I even have her mother's blessing. She knows we live together." The court explained that he was not being charged with rape and asked whether he wished for some time to reconsider his guilty plea and perhaps speak to a lawyer. But Cutajar seemed intent on facing the music. "There is no need to give me time to recon- sider," said Cutajar. "I made a mistake and am ready to pay for what I've done." The prosecution confirmed that he had cooperated fully with the police. The court sentenced the ac- cused to three years' imprison- ment, also issuing a three-year protection order for the victim's family and ordering the inclu- sion of Cutajar's name on the sex offenders register. He was informed that he had a right to appeal. The court ordered a ban on the publication of the name of the girl, on account of her age. A recent medical study concluded that the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis - THC - could be used to reduce tumor growth in cancer patients