An argument between a man and his partner’s brother a fortnight ago which led to a shooting, was over a car, a magistrate heard today.

Alfred Mifsud, who was with his son, Noel, when the latter got shot in the leg on June 16, said the incident was over a months-old disagreement over a Peugeot.

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Massimo Caruana, 35, an unemployed man from Valletta, who is pleading not guilty to attempting to murder Noel Mifsud when he allegedly shot him in the leg in Triq l-Ixprun.

Mr Caruana is also charged with carrying an unlicensed weapon during the commission of a crime, slightly injuring Mr Mifsud, threatening Mr Mifsud and his father Alfred and breaching the peace.

Mr Caruana, who has other pending criminal proceedings, some dating back to 2006, was further charged with breaching the bail conditions of two pending cases and relapsing.

The prosecution requested the court to order that the sum of €14,330 connected with the bail conditions be forfeited.

Alfred Mifsud explained that he had been dating Mr Caruana’s mother, Anna, and when their relationship ended he expected her to return the Peugeot that they had bought together. He had paid for it himself but it was registered on her name. The matter had been pending for several months and had been taken to court.

He said there was also another issue about a Subaru which was being driven by Mr Caruana but was registered on his (Alfred Mifsud’s) name.

Insisting that he treated Mr Caruana as his own son, Alfred Mifsud said that his son had received a call from Mr Caruana and the two agreed to meet close to Fort St Elmo.

He said he accompanied his son but remained in the car while his son waited outside the car. All of a sudden, he heard a shot and saw his son with a gaping hole in his leg.

“I turned to Massimo and told him: Do you know what you’ve done? And he replied: ‘I will shoot you too and blow your head off’,” Alfred Mifsud said.

Noel Mifsud also testified before Magistrate Josette Demicoli. Confirming the issue involving the two cars, he said that he saw Mr Caruana approaching him and all of a sudden saw him produce a weapon. He said he told him: “We’re trying to settle matters and you come here with a weapon? And he replied: ‘You think I won’t shoot you?’ He then pointed the gun at my leg and shot me,” Noel Mifsud said.

The case continues on July 3.

Police Inspectors Daryl Borg and Kurt Zahra prosecuted. Lawyer Charmaine Cherrett was defence counsel.