The court yesterday heard how an argument between a man and his former girlfriend – the mother of his child – got out of hand and developed into an arson attempt at the bar.

Roberta Cutajar, the owner of Saints Bar in Mriehel, told the court that Marius Scerri and Frederick Joseph Grech walked into the bar and the former started threatening Isaura Magri, his former lover.

Ms Cutajar was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Scerri, 18, from Hamrun and Mr Grech, 19, also from Hamrun who are pleading not guilty to setting fire to the Saints Bar at about 3.45am on 8 July when there were several people inside, and of damaging the bar.

Mr Scerri is also being accused of assaulting and verbally threatening Ms Magri and Ms Cutajar, using foul language and breaching the public peace.

Ms Cutajar said Mr Scerri walked into the bar, grabbed Ms Magri by the hair and slammed her against the wall. She said he told her not to go to that bar anymore. Ms Cutajar said Mr Scerri was shouting at the top of his voice, swearing and threatening Ms Magri. She said she tried to calm down the situation but, every now and then, he would start shouting again. On and off, the incident continued for about an hour, after which a bouncer escorted Mr Scerri outside. Mr Grech also told Mr Scerri to calm down but was told to mind his own business.

Ms Cutajar said Mr Scerri told Ms Magri that he was going to kill her and that their son was going to end up without a mother. Some time later, she said, the front part of the bar was set on fire and the damage amounted to Lm1,500. She said she saw Mr Scerri running down the road soon after the fire started. Under cross examination, Ms Cutajar said Mr Scerri had a truncheon hidden underneath his clothes.

Testifying, police inspector Raymond D'Anastas, who is leading the prosecution, said that at around 4am on 8 July, he was informed about an arson attack on a bar in Mriehel. He said he went to speak to Mr Scerri but he was drunk and could not answer his questions. He also looked for Mr Grech who he found at St James Capua Hospital being treated for second degree burns in 10 per cent of his body. He said he told him the whole story which was then put down in an official statement.

Ms Magri also took to the witness stand yesterday. Her version was, more or less, similar to that of Ms Cutajar but added that Mr Scerri told her he would hurt her so much that she would end up in a wheelchair. She said there were between 10 and 15 people inside the bar at the time of the incident.

Police sergeant Michael Bondin told the court that he interrogated Mr Grech who told him that Mr Scerri had called him that evening to go with him to a bar in Mriehel. He said he tried to calm Mr Scerri down during his argument. He told Sgt Bondin that Mr Scerri told him to stop him at a petrol station where he found a jerry can and filled it with fuel.

He said he told him to return to the bar and while he was pouring the fuel, some spilled onto his clothes. When Mr Scerri set the fuel on fire, his clothes also caught fire and that was why he got burnt. When asked, Mr Bondin said Mr Grech had told him that he was scared of Mr Scerri.

The case continues.

Police inspector Raymond D'Anastas prosecuted. Dr Giannella Caruana Curran prosecuted while Dr Jason Azzopardi appeared for Mr Grech.