A man who damaged a truck with a mattock during an argument at a quarry was conditionally discharged by a court and ordered to pay for the damages.

Marius Camilleri, 55, of Qormi who is a truck driver with a construction company, had been charged over an incident which happened in April 2010.

The court heard that the argument had erupted when the accused expected to be given precedence over another truck driver who was on site before him to load his truck with aggregate material.

At one point, the defendant lifted the first truck in line with a bulldozer, but the truck driver was quick to drive his heavy vehicle back to its original position. The argument escalated when the defendant grabbed a mattock and smashed the truck’s side mirror and then hit the vehicle’s door while asking the other man whether he was willing to give him precedence.

On his part, the accused told the court that he acted after being informed by a quarry employee that he had precedence over the other truck driver. He said that the side mirror of the other vehicle was broken prior to the incident, and that he used the mattock to protect himself as the other party tried to hit him with the truck door.

The court, presided by Magistrate Josette Demicoli said that defendant’s version of events was not credible especially in the wake of the photographic evidence presented during proceedings.

Although the defendant was found guilty of damaging the truck, he was acquitted of revilement and of relapsing.

The magistrate however noted that this was the second time that the defendant was charged for causing damages with a mattock.

Consequently it opted for a three-year conditional discharge and ordered the accused to cover the costs of the damages amounting to €718 within three months.

Police inspector Kevin J Farrugia prosecuted.