A man was assaulted by his two cousins wielding butcher knives in an act of revenge because they blamed him for their brother’s death by overdose, a court heard yesterday.

Giovanni Spiteri, 23, and his brother Manwel, 18, both from Cospicua, are the siblings of convicted criminal Melchior Spiteri. The two are pleading not guilty to attacking their cousin John Mifsud from Bugibba with weapons described as “butcher knives”.

They are also charged with holding Mr Mifsud against his will and with threatening to kill him. The alleged incident took place on 28 March 2006 in an area known as “Fuq Verdala” in Cospicua.

The brothers are also accused of being in possession of sharp and pointed instruments during the commission of the crime. The younger of the two is additionally charged with damaging his aunt’s property by driving into her gate and parapet. He is accused of driving a car carelessly without a licence or insurance. Giovanni Spiteri is also charged with relapsing in view of previous convictions.

The alleged victim took the stand yesterday and explained what happened. He said he was on a bus, on his way to visit his mother, when his cousin’s girlfriend sat down next to him. Mr Mifsud got off the bus, as did the girl, and he made his way to his mother’s house.

He said that as he knocked on the door, he heard a car being driven in reverse and suddenly he saw a black Ford Escort crash into the parapet and gate of his mother’s house.

“My cousin Manwel started shouting that he was going to get his revenge because of his brother’s death,” the witness said. He claimed that Manwel Spiteri got out of the car and began stabbing at him with a butcher knife.

“I blocked the blows with my hands and was injured,” the man said adding that the last two fingers of his left hand are still numb following the incident. The man sustained injuries to both hands and needed stitches.

He said that after Manwel began assaulting him, Giovanni came running, also wielding a knife. “He tried to hit me but did not manage,” Mr Mifsud said. He claimed the attack was only stopped when his uncle came and pulled his sons away.

Mr Mifsud added that although Manwel stopped and encouraged his brother to do the same, Giovanni wanted to carry on the assault. “I still want revenge,” Mr Mifsud said his cousin exclaimed. The witness, who is currently being charged with causing the death of his cousin and the accused’s brother, David Spiteri, said that deep down, his aunt knows that he did his best to help his cousin, who died of an overdose. He added that Manwel also knows that he did what he could to help David Spiteri.

Prosecuting inspector Anthony Cassar took the stand yesterday. He said that in their statements to police, the brothers both denied assaulting Mr Mifsud with knives.

“Manwel Spiteri admitted that he assaulted his cousin after he saw him sitting on the bus next to his girlfriend,” said the inspector. However, the 18-year-old claimed he had attacked his cousin with a piece of iron, not a knife. “I lost my head. I know I hit him but I do not know whether I injured him or not,” the younger of the accused was said to have told police.

Both accused told police that they believe Mr Mifsud let their brother David die. “He betrayed us and I will never forgive him,” Giovanni Spiteri told the inspector at the beginning of his statement. He also denied assaulting his cousin with a knife and claimed he found Mr Mifsud and his cousin fighting when he arrived at the scene. He also said his cousin already had blood on his hands at the time.

The case continues.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera presided over the court.

Dr Franco Debono appeared for the accused.