Two brothers from Cospicua were convicted today of having stabbed their cousin after he allegedly supplied drugs which caused another of their brothers, David, to die from an overdose.

Giovanni and Manuel Spiteri were accused of having assaulted and stabbed Johann Mifsud outside his mother's house in Cospicua on March 26, 2006. Mr Mifsud suffered injuries to his hands.

Mr Mifsud told the court that as he was about to enter his mother's house when a car driven by Manuel Spiteri reversed into the front garden and Manuel Spiteri then struck him with a knife. Giovanni then arrived and also started beating him and although he too had a knife, he was not stabbed by it.

Manuel Spiteri in a police statement admitted that he had struck his cousin with a pointed metal bar, but he did not know how many times he struck him. He denied having stabbed him with a knife. Mr Spiteri claimed that Mr Mifsud had had supplied his brother with drugs which had caused his death..

He also admitted having driven a Ford Escort without insurance cover into the front garden.

Giovanni Spiteri also said that Johann Mifsud had given drugs to his brother, causing him to overdose. He denied that Mifsud was stabbed.

The court said there was no doubt that the brothers had assaulted Johann Mifsud, their motive being what had allegedly happened to their brother.

The court noted that Manuel Spiteri had admitted to hitting the victim with a pointed metal bar and driving into the front garden of his mother's house.

In considering its sentence, the court noted evidence by doctors and representatives of Appogg agency that Giovanni Spiteri now had a job and a family and was addressing a drugs problem he had suffered from.

The court said the accused should be given an opportunity to reintegrate in society, but it was appointing a Probation Officer for the longest possible period to keep them away from crime.

The two were therefore placed under a probation order for three years.

Manuel Spiteri was disqualified form holding a driving licence for two years and fined €1,164 for driving without insurance cover.

The court also issued a protection order for Johann Mifsud and warned the accused not to speak to him for a year.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Charmain Cherret were defence counsel.