The man accused of stabbing journalist and bar owner David Darmanin told a police inspector that “he couldn’t believe that his ex had found someone else so quickly”, in reference to the victim, a friend of his testified yesterday.

Chris Sant Fournier was testifying in the compilation of evidence against James Aquilina, who is accused of the attempted murder of Mr David Darmanin.

Mr Darmanin also took the stand yesterday and said that on the night between 12 and 13 October, he was having a drink with someone he had just met in the bar, who later transpired to be Mark Richards. As Mr Darmanin stood up and turned to face the bar, he suddenly felt someone hit him in the back.

As Mr Darmanin turned round, he came face to face with someone he had never met before, who proceeded to attack him. Mr Darmanin shoved the accused out of the complex, and they continued to scuffle outside, with Mr Darmanin saying that the aggressor was shouting savage obscenities at him. As the fight ended, Mr Darmanin re-entered the bar, and felt something running down the back of his shirt. As he took his shirt off, Mr Darmanin realised that the whole shirt was covered in blood. Mr Darmanin said that all he could remember was then feeling very dizzy, and he collapsed to the floor.

Mr Darmanin was immediately rushed to hospital, where he spent two days in the intensive care unit, undergoing major surgery and fighting for his life. After two weeks in hospital, Mr Darmanin was deemed fit to leave hospital.

Davinia Preca, Mr Darmanin’s girlfriend, said that on the night of the incident, she had met Mr Aquilina for a short while, explaining that things between them were definitely over, at the wine bar in Sliema. She explained how at first Mr Aquilina seemed slightly agitated and bothered, but left reluctantly accepting life without her.

Mark Richards, the person whom Mr Darmanin was sharing a drink with, said that as they were in conversation in the early hours of the morning, someone suddenly entered the bar, and as Mr Darmanin was facing the bar, he saw someone hit Mr Darmanin. The fighting continued outside, and when the victim entered the bar again, Mr Richards saw the stain on the back of Mr Darmanin’s shirt. At first Mr Richards said that he thought it was merely red wine. As it transpired, it was blood, and as Mr Darmanin collapsed on the floor, Mr Richards phoned for an ambulance. When asked if he saw who had hit Mr Darmanin, Mr Richards said that he could not recognise the person.

On the night between 12 and 13 October, Chris Sant Fournier said that he invited Mr Aquilina to visit him in his apartment in Sliema, with the accused arriving at around 8. The two men left the apartment for a short while, went for a stroll and ended up buying a bottle of wine. Around 30 minutes later, they re-entered the apartment, and spent the next couple of hours talking about a variety of subjects. Mr Sant Fournier said that Mr Aquilina felt somewhat upset that his ex-girlfriend Davinia Preca had met someone else shortly after their break up. Mr Sant Fournier said that Mr Aquilina couldn’t understand how Ms Preca could have forgotten him so easily. Mr Aquilina urged Mr Sant Fournier to take him to see Ms Preca, who he knew was having a drink in a wine bar in Sliema, as there was something important he felt he wanted to get off his chest. Mr Sant Fournier reluctantly agreed, and just before he dropped him off he pleaded with Mr Aquilina to keep calm. Mr Aquilina emerged from the wine bar around ten minutes later, thanking Mr Sant Fournier for taking him to the wine bar, telling him that he talked to Ms Preca and that the air was now clear between them.

Mr Sant Fournier said he and Mr Aquilina then decided to go for a coffee at the airport, and once they finished the coffee, Mr Aquilina received a call from Ms Preca, and went outside to answer it. Mr Aquilina re-entered the shop, and both he and Mr Sant Fournier went for a short stroll around the airport grounds. Mr Aquilina then asked Mr Sant Fournier to take him to his residence in Attard as he felt tired.

Mr Sant Fournier said that he then went back to sleep, and was woken up suddenly by a text message from a friend saying that Mr Aquilina had been accused of stabbing the wine bar owner David Darmanin.

Defence lawyers Joe Giglio and Giannella Caruana Curran appeared for the accused. Mr Aquilina was granted bail by Magistrate Miriam Hayman against a deposit of e5000 and a personal guarantee of e23,000.

However, the magistrate sternly warned the accused that he is not to approach, in whatever circumstance, High Street, Sliema, where the wine bar is located and also refrain from sending text messages, approaching or making contact with Mr Darmanin or Ms Preca. Else, the court would be left with no option but to send Mr Aquilina back to jail. The case continues.