Motorist jailed for punching MP in road rage incident

A man has been jailed for six months for punching Labour MP Joe Sammut in the mouth and threatening him with a knife in a road rage incident. The incident happened while they were stuck in traffic at the traffic lights in St Andrews at 3pm on November 24. Philip Zahra, 43, of Naxxar, was found guilty of slightly injuring Dr Sammut, threatening him, insulting him and being in possession of a knife without a police licence. Dr Sammut testified that he was on his way to a political activity when Mr Zahra blocked his car at the traffic lights. Mr Zahra got out of his car brandishing a knife and went up to his (Dr Sammut's) car. Dr Sammut said he told him he was “crazy” to be threatening an MP with a knife and Mr Zahra then punched him in the face , saying “since you are an MP, enjoy it.”  He then drove off. Dr Sammut told the police that he hit Mr Zahra with his car door when he saw the knife. He did not know Mr Zahra but had noted his licence plate number and filed a police report.  The police searched Mr Zahra’s car and his Naxxar residence but did not find the knife. Mr Zahra denied being in possession of a knife but told the police that he could have accidentally hit Dr Sammut,...