Sliema man acquitted in road rage case: matteo lanfranco

A Maltese court acquitted Matteo Lanfranco, 24, of causing slight bodily harm following a road rage incident on 28 January 2025 in Triq il-Lunzjata, Sliema, ruling that he had acted in self-defence. The dispute began after the vehicles driven by Lanfranco and Mario Chircop stopped close to each other on the narrow Sliema street. Eyewitnesses testified that both men got out of their cars and were shouting in each other's faces before punching one another.

A passerby told the court the first confrontation lasted only a few seconds and that bystanders had to separate the two men. Lanfranco testified that Chircop had approached him aggressively, threatened him, ordered him to get out and struck him in the face, knocking his glasses off. After that initial exchange, Chircop returned to his vehicle and drove away – but came back moments later.

Witness Sultana described seeing Chircop walk back towards Lanfranco's Smart car while Lanfranco was bent forward searching inside the vehicle. She saw Chircop's arm go inside the car, describing it as looking like he had punched Lanfranco through the open window. Lanfranco testified that he felt a sudden sharp blow to his shoulder and heard himself shout: "Oh shit, he stabbed me."

He got out of the car and discovered he was bleeding heavily. Chircop admitted in court that he had taken a small knife from his car before returning to Lanfranco's vehicle. He claimed he had raised the knife only to show it, but acknowledged that he struck Lanfranco while holding it and denied any intention to stab him.

Both men were medically certified as having suffered slight injuries; Lanfranco required hospital treatment. The court found that independent eyewitnesses corroborated Lanfranco's account and that Chircop's testimony had shifted over time – notably regarding how many blows he said he received and who had initiated the confrontation. The magistrate concluded that the altercation had been started by Chircop and that Lanfranco's actions during the struggle amounted to self-defence.

Lanfranco was acquitted of the charge of causing slight bodily harm. Whether Chircop faces separate charges arising from the same incident – such as unlawful wounding or possession of a weapon – has not been stated on the public record.