A man who intervened to stop a fight that started over a traffic accident was beaten unconscious and left lying in the middle of a main road, a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Simon Galea said he learnt that Tristan Scott Haynes "used kung fu moves" to strike David Shephard to the ground when Shephard tried to stop a fight between his friend, Joseph Attard, and Haynes.

Moreover, the inspector said, Haynes also punched Reuben Briffa, a motorist who stopped to help Shephard.

The inspector testified before Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani-Grima in the compilation of evidence against Haynes, 34, who is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Shephard, Attard and Briffa in Bahar ic-Caghaq last Saturday at about 10 p.m.

The Englishman is also pleading not guilty to involuntarily causing damage to Attard's car, breaching the peace and obstructing the flow of traffic.

Inspector Galea explained he had been informed that Shephard had been rushed to hospital and was in a critical state. He spoke to Shephard some time after the incident after consulting with doctors.

Shephard told him that his friend Attard and Haynes started fighting after a traffic accident and Haynes punched Attard in the eye.

Shephard intervened to stop them but Haynes grabbed him and beat him using kung fu moves until he fell to the ground. The only thing he remembered was that a man stopped to help him.

Police Inspectors Kevin Farrugia and Simon Galea are prosecuting.

Dr Malcolm Mifsud and Dr Ian Micallef are appearing for the defendant.

Dr Jason Azzopardi is appearing in parte civile for the victims.