What began as a regular court hearing for lawyer Jean Paul Grech was unexpectedly transformed into a first aid rescue operation as he desperately tried to stem blood flowing out of a man’s stab wounds.

The 32-year-old from Victoria appeared for Pasqualino Cefai in a civil case with Joseph Portelli in Gozo last Wednesday.

But the lawyer was shocked to see Mr Portelli curled up on the floor after Mr Cefai allegedly stabbed him some 20 times – a charge he has denied.

“I removed my jacket and knelt next to Mr Portelli, who was in the space between the witness stand and the table below the magistrate’s bench.

“I used my handkerchief on his hand and called out to the court marshal to get a towel,” Dr Grech told The Sunday Times.

Mr Portelli, 54, of Żebbuġ, Gozo, was fighting for his life after being stabbed with a penknife in front of Magistrate Josette Demicoli during a civil lawsuit between the men.

His lawyer, Kevin Mompalao, was also slashed on the elbow, requiring seven stitches.

Mr Cefai, 37, is pleading not guilty to all charges including attempted murder and causing bodily harm.

Witnesses said Magistrate Demicoli ordered Mr Cefai out of the room after he passed a number of “arrogant” remarks. Seconds later, he turned back and allegedly assaulted the two men before running out.

Dr Grech explained he had stepped in to represent Mr Cefai for Wednesday’s sitting, temporarily replacing his appointed lawyer.

When he saw Mr Portelli needed help, he ran out of the courtroom to tell the court employees and the police officer, who was stationed downstairs, to call for help.

“It then struck me there were injured people in the courtroom who needed help so I ran up again,” he said.

Describing it as a “sight I will never forget”, Dr Grech found Mr Portelli covered in blood. “His suit was soaked.”

He called out to a court marshal to get a towel, which he used to stop the heavy blood flow from the back of Mr Portelli’s neck. “I kept speaking to Mr Portelli so that he remained awake.”

Dr Grech insisted he did not do anything special, saying that he acted “instinctively” and waited with Mr Portelli until an ambulance arrived five minutes later.

After the medical staff left, shock set in and Dr Grech also went to hospital for treatment.

“I never expected to see that in real life, in a courtroom, it’s not like we were outside – it’s really hard to remove that scene from my mind,” he said.