A Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday how the man who smashed the historic crucifix at Ta’ Giezu church in Valletta told friars that their god was a god of violence.

Testifying in court, Fr George Aquilina, who at the time was delivering his homily, said the man said those words while he was being restrained by members of the congregation after he allegedly smashed the crucifix and a number of candelabra.

The 33-year-old Indian man born in the UK, Krishanu Bhattacharjee, is pleading not guilty to wilfully causing damage to the 200-year-old mother-of-pearl crucifix at Ta’ Giezu Church. He is also charged with showing disrespect toward the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion through his actions and of disturbing a religious ceremony.

Fr Aquilina told the court, presided over by magistrate Abigail Lofaro, that he saw the man walking up towards the altar and then heard the congregation shouting out just seconds before the man pushed the candlesticks and the crucifix to the ground.

He said the defendant’s mother wrote to him the day after the incident and apologised on behalf of her son. She asked the priests to forgive him for his actions. He said he replied to the woman’s letter and told her that priests were urging people to show compassion.

Meanwhile, police inspector Joseph Mercieca told the court that the man had told police that he considered himself to be an antichrist. He said the defendant told him that he went to the same church that morning and asked to be baptised. He was baptised informally and he left the church. Later, he told police he was passing by and happened to walk into the church because he felt he was being chased by his “bad version”.

The case is postponed to 10 May.

Police inspectors Joseph Mercieca and Alfred Mallia prosecuted.

Dr Vincent Galea represented the accused.