It was while walking back to the car from Paceville with his brothers that 28-year-old Matthew Debono found himself on the ground, being beaten by a police officer and his friend, he testified yesterday.

Taking the witness stand during the compilation of evidence, during which the brothers have been warned that this might incriminate them, Matthew Debono told the court about the incident which occurred at around 3am on 22 December.

Mr Debono was with his brothers, 21-year-old Omar and Alek, 18, from San Ġwann. The accused are 38-year-old Inspector Jeffrey Cilia, from Balzan, who works with the Criminal Investigations Department and 39-year-old Mr Farrugia, a hairdresser from Għargħur.

The two men stand charged with seriously injuring Matthew Debono, without the intention of killing him, and slightly injuring his brothers, and both are pleading not guilty.

Inspector Cilia alone stands charged with threatening and assaulting Sergeant Raymond Mifsud Grech, not allowing him to do his job and disobeying police orders.

He was also charged with using obscene language in public while drunk and committing a crime which he was duty bound to prevent. He also stands charged with insulting the brothers and disturbing the peace.

Mr Debono explained that the brothers decided to go to Paceville after a work activity at the Coastline Hotel, but when they found it was quiet decided to leave. While making their way back to their car, he spit on the floor.

He said he heard someone ask him what he thought he was doing, and approached the man to ask what had happened, when he found himself punched in the face and fell to the ground.

Mr Debono testified that Inspector Cilia continued to punch him in the head and face, while his friend, Christopher Farrugia, kicked him. He said that he didn’t know exactly what was happening.

He also said he remembers his brother Alek filming what was happening on his mobile phone, and Inspector Cilia taking his mobile.

Showing the court where he was hit, Matthew Debono said that since the day of the incident he has suffered headaches and even nightmares on some occasions. He said that he has also been advised to see a psychiatrist.

Witnesses said Inspector Cilia even fought with Sergeant Raymond Mifsud Grech, when the latter said he would arrest him, and resisted arrest. The Debono brothers said they did not know the accused before this incident.

All this emerged during the compilation of evidence before Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, who said there was enough evidence for Cilia and Farrugia to be charged.

Testifying, Omar Debono said he was shocked to see his brother being beaten and said he first thought Inspector Cilia knew his brother. He said he was four to five footsteps away from the fight, and denied that he was far away.

He said even he had received some blows, from Christopher Farrugia, and had lost three teeth. He also said that Alek had been punched in the face, for filming what was going on.

Superintendent Stephen Gatt is prosecuting. Lawyer Joseph Giglio insisted that his client, Inspector Cilia, sustained blows to his head, his side and other parts of his body. The case continues on 28 February.