A man told the police he went into a blind rage and stabbed his flatmate several times because he feared for his life, a court heard yesterday.

Neil Andrew Vella, 37, made the confession after he and his victim had initially fabricated a story about someone breaking into their flat, Police Inspector Elton Taliana testified.

He was speaking during the compilation of evidence against Mr Vella, who is accused of attempting to kill Sandro Mifsud 10 days ago.

During questioning, the accused told the police that Mr Mifsud used to mistreat him, bully him and often threaten him, the inspector told Magistrate Edwina Grima.

The two had got to know each other in prison, where they got along very well. Later, Mr Vella had ended up homeless and Mr Mifsud offered him a place to live at his flat.

Mr Mifsud, however, then started to control him, take his social benefits and even force him to commit theft, Mr Taliana said.

At one time, a few days before the incident, Mr Mifsud showed Mr Vella a pistol and told him that he would “discharge it into his head”. On November 12, according to the accused, Mr Mifsud sent him to buy some tobacco and when he returned an argument ensued over the change as around €5 was missing.

During the argument Mr Mifsud attacked Mr Vella with a pair of scissors. At one point, Mr Mifsud turned towards a wardrobe and Mr Vella thought he was about to grab his pistol.

So he got hold of a knife and stabbed his flatmate several times in a blind rage, he told the police. Inspector Taliana said the police were called to the men’s flat in Birkirkara and upon entering, there was blood “all over the place”.

He said he had spoken to another man who also lived there, Fabian Schriha, who told him there had been an argument between Mr Vella and Mr Mifsud after the latter accused the former of stealing €45 from his wallet.

Mr Schriha said he saw Mr Vella stabbing Mr Mifsud “viciously”.

The case continues.