The man was testifying in the trial of four men involved in a fight in Bugibba in the early hours of 11 March 2001. The men – Godwin Vella, 41, David Calleja, 39, Anthony Joseph Portelli, a 31-year-old soldier and Keith Caruana, 26, all from St Paul’s Bay – are being accused of a number of crimes, including seriously injuring Alfred Cardona.

Mr Caruana alone is being charged with the attempted murder of yesterday’s witness, Mr Farrugia. Mr Portelli allegedly was his accomplice. These two men are also being accused of injuring Mr Farrugia slightly.

Since Calleja had been found guilty of seriously injuring another person in 1992, he is also being charged with relapsing in view of previous convictions. In addition to these charges, Mr Caruana is being accused of resisting arrest while Mr Calleja allegedly refused to obey police orders.

Mr Farrugia yesterday took the stand in the Criminal Court to give his version of events. He explained that he was riding in a Mercedes driven by Darren Mallia, after having a drink in a bar in Bugibba with him and another three men – Alfred Cardona, Stephen Cardona and Paul Ebejer.

As Mr Mallia and Mr Cardona had done before him, Mr Farrugia said that on the way home, they came across a black Opel Tigra that had been left in the middle of the road with the doors open.

“Two people started coming towards us,” said the witness. He recognized these two men as Mr Portelli and Mr Calleja. “Portelli had a baseball bat in his hand and he started hitting Mr Mallia’s car. I did not know where he got it from,” continued Mr Farrugia.

The witness got out of the car since he knew Mr Calleja and figured he could reason with him. “I told him that we did not want to cause trouble, but before David (Calleja) had any time to talk, Mr Portelli beat me with the baseball bat,” said Mr Farrugia.

Then Mr Caruana came out waving a knife in each hand, said the witness. “I moved away and Mr Portelli grabbed me by the neck. Mr Caruana was trying to stab me. I tried to twist and turn out of the way, but he managed to hit me three times, in the head, in the chest and in my side,” he continued.

Mr Farrugia said he then saw Mr Calleja punch Mr Cardona and Mr Vella while Mr Portelli kicked Mr Cardona when he was down. By that time, Mr Portelli had obviously let Mr Farrugia go.

The tale related by yesterday’s witness echoed that told by previous witnesses and that described in the bill of indictment drawn up against the four men.

Caroline Azzopardi, who used to live with Mr Caruana at the time of the incident, took the stand yesterday and told what she believed happened that day.

She said, Mr Portelli carried Mr Caruana home and she took him inside, since he was drunk. “After closing the door behind us, we heard a lot of commotion,” she said. “After I opened the door, two men grabbed Keith, dragged him onto a neighbouring porch and started beating him,” Ms Azzopardi said.

The witness was not in a position to recognise any of the men. She said she did not see Mr Calleja or Mr Vella at any point during the fight. When shown the two knives Mr Caruana allegedly used to try and kill Mr Farrugia, Ms Azzopardi said she had never see them before. Ms Azzopardi claimed she saw Mr Portelli being beaten over the head and in the back with the baseball bat, but could not tell who had been wielding it.

Inspector Geoffrey Azzopardi also testified during yesterday’s sitting. He told the court that, after having questioned Ms Azzopardi about the knives allegedly used by Mr Caruana in the incident, she did not show up for a second interrogation.

Insp. Azzopardi said Mr Caruana’s father phoned him after she had hung up on him. “He told me he had frightened Caroline, although we did nothing out of the ordinary. We did not raise our voices, we were just persistent,” said the inspector.

Originally, Ms Azzopardi said she had seen the knives in a drawer in the kitchen of where she used to live with Mr Caruana. The day after, she claimed she did not remember what she said.

The inspector went on to read out statements given to police by Godwin Vella and Keith Caruana. “I am not going to answer any questions,” Mr Caruana said when interrogated by the inspector. In fact, as the statement was read out, Mr Caruana’s answer to every question was, “I will not answer.”

Inspector Azzopardi will continue giving his testimony this morning.

Senior Counsel to the Republic Mark Said is leading the prosecution.

Dr Martin Fenech is appearing for Mr Vella and Mr Calleja, Dr Edward Gatt is defending Mr Portelli while Dr Anglu Farrugia is assisting Mr Caruana