Mario Attard, 50 from Hamrun who became involved in the fight between two women, was charged with seriously injuring and trying to kill Ivan Pirotta at 10.45pm last Saturday evening in Kirkop. He was also accused of trying to seriously injure another man, Nazzareno Gauci, of threatening several people with a pointed instrument, carrying an unlicensed pointed weapon, breaching the peace and relapsing in view of previous convictions.

Prosecuting inspector Carmelo Bartolo objected to the man being released on bail due to the fact that it would be very difficult to prevent him approaching police witnesses since his live-in girlfriend is one of them. “This woman even came to court today to speak to the accused,” said Mr Bartolo.

Presiding magistrate Denis Montebello decided to uphold the request of defence attorneys Dr Jose Herrera and Dr Roberto Montalto for bail and said keeping the accused under arrest was not the only way of stopping him approaching the witnesses. “In some cases, the police even keep the witnesses away from the accused,” he said.

Attard was therefore granted bail against a Lm1,500 personal guarantee and ordered to pay a Lm1,000 deposit. He was ordered not to approach the witnesses or the Kirkop Malta Labour Party club and was given a 10pm curfew.