Two young men involved in a fight with nightclub bouncers were yesterday charged with injuring a policeman when officers intervened and arrested one of them.

During the arraignment, Daniele Festari, 18, from Tarxien, and Redeemer Bonnici, 20, from Fgura, denied attacking Police Sergeant Stefan Mercieca, slightly injuring and threatening him and breaching the peace in Paceville.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana told Magistrate Marseann Farrugia that bail should be denied as the charges were very serious and involved a police officer who was injured while carrying out his duty.

He added that two other men would be charged who are related to the accused and this might lead to tampering with evidence.

On the other hand, defence lawyers Roberto Montalto, appearing for Mr Bonnici, and Simon Micallef Stafrace, for Mr Festari, said that while the charges were serious, the fight was not caused by their clients but by the bouncers.

It was clear the sergeant was hurt because he intervened and that the officers were never the targets

They told the magistrate that from the defendants’ police statements it was clear the sergeant was hurt because he intervened and that the officers were never the targets.

Dr Montalto said his client had tried to leave the nightclub with a glass when the security officers said he was not allowed to, and he walked back inside. At that point an argument broke out.

Two bouncers began beating Mr Bonnici and his cousins got involved, when police in plain clothes suddenly tried to break things up.

Insisting this was an unfortunate incident, Dr Montalto said the problems were caused by third parties.

The lawyers argued that the accused were young and had clean police records.

Magistrate Farrugia granted them bail against a high deposit of €5,000 and ordered that a trusted person of the accused could also stand in as a guarantor for the money, which would still have to be paid if they were to be released.