Man knifed in argument over a bottle of detergent

An argument over the theft of a bottle of detergent landed a man in hospital with stab wounds and his friend of 25 years in court for attempting to seriously injure him with a kitchen knife.

Marco Marotta, 37, an Italian national currently residing in Sliema, pleaded guilty to attempting to seriously injure Orazio Antonio Puglisi and to causing him slight injuries with a knife.

He also admitted to theft with a value of under €23 and to being in possession of a sharp and pointed instrument at the time of the commission of the crime.

Police Inspector Anna Marie Micallef told the court that the two men had been friends for 25 years.

She said the victim had told the police that he never expected his friend to come to his house to steal a bottle of detergent.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna heard that when Mr Puglisi confronted his friend on the detergent, the latter grabbed a kitchen knife and hit him on the right hand side of his neck.

He also heard that Mr Puglisi categorically ruled out forgiving his friend for what he had done.

After considering this and the fact that the accused had a clean police record, Magistrate Apap Bologna sentenced Mr Marotta to a year in jail suspended for two years.

Lawyer Renzo Porsella Flores appeared as legal aid to Mr Marotta.