Clyde Bonavia, 25, an inmate at Corradino prisons, today pleaded not guilty to slashing a police officer across the face, seriously injuring him last Sunday. He also denied trying to injure a prison guard during a scuffle.

The incident allegedly happened at the prison forensic unit at Mt Carmel Hospital.

Defence counsel Gianella Caruana Curran told a court this morning that Mr Bonavia had been mutilating himself and the officers had tried to stop him.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia said that as the officers tried to stop Mr Bonavia, he lashed out at them with his blade, injuring one of the officers.

Defence counsel asked for the accused to be medically examined and for him to remain at the forensic unit since he is already seeing a psychologist. The court upheld the request.

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