Yesterday, a police inspector testified how two brothers, who are accused of trying to kill each other when an argument over a rubble wall escalated, admitted to police to shooting at each other but both said they did not shoot first.

Police inspector Joseph Agius was testifying during the compilation of evidence of Anthony Cachia, 52, from Safi, who is accused of the attempted murder of his brother Joseph during a shooting incident that took place at around 5.45pm on 15 April 2006 at the family’s fields in the limits of Zurrieq.

He said Anthony Cachia went to the police station on the day in question and told the police that he had been involved in an argument with his brother and that they shot at each other. He told police he did not know if his brother had been hit.

Later on that evening, the police discovered that the man’s brother had been admitted to hospital and was treated for the injuries he had sustained to his head and his face.

Inspector Agius said that when questioned, Joseph Cachia said more or less the same story and added that during the course of the investigations, both brothers admitted to shooting at each other but had both denied firing the first shot.

Anthony Cachia is also pleading not guilty to slightly injuring his brother and being in possession of a weapon during the commission of the crime.

Joseph Cachia is also facing criminal proceedings with the same charges but the case is being heard by a different magistrate.

Dr Anglu Farrugia, Dr Patrick Valentino and Dr Edward Gatt appeared for Anthony Cachia while Dr Giannella Caruana Curran appeared in parte civile for the other brother.