A man who earlier this month was allegedly attacked by two men using a hoe and a spirit level was today himself taken to court and accused of seriously injuring one of them.

Antoine Saliba was accused of seriously injuring Joseph Borg, 23 in the incident at Zebbug, earlier this month.

The dispute stemmed from rent for an apartment owed to Mr Saliba by Mr Borg.

The court heard that Mr Borg had gone to his home to collect his belongings when he found that the locks had been replaced.

During an argument which followed Mr Saliba suffered back injuries when he was hit with a hoe, allegedly by Mr Borg. He was also allegedly hit with a spirit level by Silvester Zahra, who had accompanied Mr Borg to the scene. Both were later accused of attempted murder and held in remand.  

However Mr Saliba was himself arraigned today, accused of seriously injuring Mr Borg.

Defence lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Kathleen Grima said that their client was savagely attacked and had acted in self defence. They said that their client had suffered serious injuries and a nerve in his back had been permanently damaged, causing him mobility problems.

They said close circuit television footage showed that their client was actually the victim of the incident.

The lawyers also argued that he should not be held in custody because of the treatment he needed. 

Mr Saliba was granted bail against a personal guarantee of €20,000.