A 25-year-old man from Naxxar was this morning cleared of attempted murder in October 2008 but was fined €2,500 for driving a car without a licence and not covered by insurance.

Simon Rhys Mansfield had pleaded not guilty to hitting Clinton Busuttil on the head with a wheel wrench in St Julian's on October 12, 2008.

In the compilation of evidence, he had told the Court that he had hit Mr Busuttil's car when trying to park his own, then went on his way and found another parking spot.

On his way to Paceville, Mr Busuttil got out of his car and attacked him with a wheel wrench, hitting him on his head and his back.

Mr Rhys Mansfield defended himself, managed to take the wheel wrench away from Mr Busuttil and told the court he may have hit Mr Busuttil. By then, his own glasses were broken.

The court concluded that the version of events given by Mr Busuttil and Chris Callus, who was in Mr Busuttil's car, was full of contradictions and not trustworthy and ruled that Mr Rhys Mansfield had acted in self-defence.

Mr Rhys Mansfield, who was represented by Michael Sciriha, admitted to driving a car without a license and insurance and was fined €2,500.