Cough sparked fatal Qawra bar fight, court hears

The victim in last week’s fatal incident at a Qawra bar had allegedly been coughing onto the bar owner’s drink, triggering the one-minute fight that ended in a deadly push down the bar steps onto the pavement below. 

Details of the incident came to light on Thursday during the first hearing of the compilation of evidence against David Busuttil, the 59-year-old owner of Munchies pub, who is facing murder charges over the fight which broke out in the very early hours of Friday.

It was a quiet evening at the pub and shortly before the unfortunate episode, Busuttil had been watching a game of darts inside the bar, alongside Kieran Micallef, a friend who occasionally lent a hand at the pub.

It was some time past midnight when trouble brewed.

The victim, Roger Dudley-Ward, had gone to the pub along with a friend, London-born Shane Eagle, who witnessed the whole incident and testified about the dynamics of the argument on Thursday.

All three were gathered around a high table on the patio outside the bar in Triq it-Turisti.

Busuttil was sipping a Captain Morgan with ginger ale while the other two men were drinking beer out of cans.

While Busuttil discussed time share business with...