A man accused with police inspector Jeffrey Cilia of attacking three young brothers in Paceville four years ago said the fight broke out after his friend tried to stop them vandalising a plant.

Christopher Farrugia this morning told the court the incident happened in front of the InterContinental Hotel when his friend asked the youngsters to stop damaging a plant.

The two are accused of attacking the three brothers while Inspector Cilia is suspended from the police pending the outcome of the case. In previous testimony, the court heard how former police commissioner John Rizzo had warned Inspector Cilia that his breath was reeking of alcohol when interrogating him.

Mr Farrugia is insisting it was the three youngsters who attacked Inspector Cilia, who was off-duty at the time, after he corrected them over the plant incident. The brothers have claimed in court the incident happened after one of them spat on the ground. They insisted it was the inspector and his friend who attacked them.

Mr Farrugia said he intervened by pulling away the biggest brother from Inspector Cilia. He insisted no punches were thrown but a brawl ensued.

Under cross examination, Mr Farrugia said he had been at a dinner in Żebbuġ with Mr Cilia before heading out to Paceville. Both drank alcohol but he denied being drunk.

He admitted having taken a mobile phone from one of the youngsters and refusing to hand it back to him.

Mr Farrugia told the court that the young man was filming them with the mobile phone and taking them for a ride. He said the mobile phone was handed over to the district police when they arrived on the scene of the crime.

Mr Farrugia said the police did not arrest him or Mr Cilia on the night and let them go.

“In the morning I was called in by the police and ended up being charged for defending a police inspector,” he said.

The case continues.

Superintendent Stephen Gatt is prosecuting.