Two men in court after fight

A 23-year-old from Cospicua this evening pleaded not guilty to permanently scarring the face of a 44-year-old man when he allegedly assaulted him with a piece of broken glass.

The incident took place in a bar at Cospicua on Friday night.

Chris Cardona, Daniel Scerri’s lawyer, said his client had acted in self-defence following provocation from Rennie Lia, also from Cospicua, who was harassing Mr Scerri’s girlfriend. Mr Scerri defended himself after Mr Lia bit him and hurled a glass at him.

In a separate arraignment, Mr Lia, who had a dressing over his nose and stitches across the left side of his face, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and harassing Mr Scerri’s 16-year-old girlfriend.

Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli said that their client’s version of events was “radically opposed” to that of Mr Scerri. Mr Lia claimed that he had been attacked.

The lawyers told Magistrate Miriam Hayman that Mr Scerri had to undergo a skin graft operation to his nose.

Both men were granted bail on condition they do not leave their home without the permission of the court. Mr Scerri was bound by a €2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €5,000, Mr Lia with a deposit of €1,500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000.