A hearing in an assault case against Libyan boxer Mohamed Ali Ahmed Elmushraty, better known as Lilu King, was brought to a standstill after prison authorities failed to bring him to court.

Elmushraty was due to appear before Magistrate Ann Marie Thake on Wednesday, who is hearing the case in which he stands accused of grievously injuring a man during an alleged assault at Medasia Playa in Sliema.

But despite the hearing having been set down for submissions from the defence, he was never brought over from prison.

The court heard the deputy registrar had contacted prison officials two days beforehand to confirm the date and time of the sitting.

Magistrate Thake said that this was not the first time that a case had been disrupted because an accused person had not been brought over from prison.

She warned if such failures continued, the court would consider holding the director of the Corradino Correctional Facility in contempt for failing to comply with its authority.

With the accused absent, the court had little choice but to adjourn the case to 25 September.

Elmushraty is charged with grievously injuring a man during a fight at Medasia Playa in May 2023 and with breaching bail conditions imposed in separate cases.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Although he was previously granted bail for this particular case, he remains behind bars over separate criminal cases.

Only three months ago, he was denied bail over what prosecutors described as a "vicious and extremely graphic" assault in San Ġwann.

In that case, he faces a raft of charges, including complicity in non-consensual sexual acts, abduction, aggravated theft and psychological torture.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Herman Mula and Adreana Zammit appeared for the defence, while Inspector Shamus Woods prosecuted.