Magistrate Aaron Bugeja this morning ordered the release on bail to Paul Sheehan, the former driver of former Minister Manuel Mallia, who stands accused of attempted murder when he shot in the direction of a driver of a car that had hit the minister’s vehicle.

The bail was granted against a deposit of 5,000 euros and a personal guarantee of 15,000 euros.

The bail was given on condition that he deposits his passports and other travel documents and that he does not speak or try to approach any of the witnesses, and to sign at the St Julian’s police station on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Mr Sheehan is pleading not guilty to attempted murder, using violence against Stephen Morrison Smith, causing voluntary damage to a vehicle, discharging a firearm in a public place and exceeding the limits of his authority as a police officer.

When the compilation of evidence resumed this morning, assistant commissioner Sandro Zarb said that at 9.15pm he had received a call from the then acting commissioner of police Ray Zammit who told him to go on site of the incident, the Tal-Qroqq tunnel leading towards Marsa. When he arrived he asked for the weapon that was used in the incident, and this was in the minister's car. He said the weapon was loaded and it was unloaded by constable Ruben Zammit.

"When I arrived at the scene, there were several police officers, the minister’s car on the side of the road and a Vauxhall on the low-loader. I noticed that there were two bullet holes lodged in the Vauxhall: one under the car’s taillights and the other just above the windscreen," Mr Zarb said.

Mr Sheehan told him that he had fired two shot so he sent two police officers to find the spent bullets but they could not find them.

The beer bottle that was allegedly used by the driver of the car to threaten Paul Sheehan was wrapped in a piece of paper.

Mr Zarb said that the registration plate was not GM14 but that used for the leasing of the car. The GM14 number plates were in the boot of the car, which was open.

Mr Zarb also testified that it was Police Inspector Gabriel Micallef who drove the Scotsman's car that had been hit by Sheehan's bullets onto a low-loader.

Mr Micallef is in a relationship with the sister of Mr Sheehan.

The case continues in January.

Lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha and Edward Gatt appeared for Mr Sheehan while lawyer Joe Giglio appeared parte civile for Mr Smith.