The Sudanese who died from a brain haemorrhage after he was allegedly punched by Romanian Antonel Dobre had been regularly involved in several arguments at the Paceville nightclub Havana, a court heard today.

Testifying before Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, in the trial by jury against Mr Dobre, 29, who is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Osama Al Shazliay Saleh - 26, known to his friends as Sunshine - in Paceville on March 17, 2012, at about 6am, bouncer Anthony Portelli said the club had barred Mr Saleh from entering for a while to avoid problems. He said Mr Saleh had been a regular at Havana.

Mr Portelli told the court that sometime in 2011 he saw an incident during which Mr Saleh hit a young man, Darren Borg, then bit his hand and kicked him in the head.

He said he urged Mr Borg to file a police report but he was scared.

When cross examined, Mr Portelli said he had problems with police in the past.

Mr Borg testified that he and his friend were randomly assaulted by two dark-skinned men at the end of summer 2011. However, he did now know who they were and would not be able to recognise them, he said.

Answering a question by the prosecution, he insisted he had nothing against dark-skinned people.