A Libyan who allegedly stabbed another man told a court yesterday he was acting in self defence because he was being picked for his fair complexion.

The Libyan national, who is fair-looking and has very light brown hair, was charged with attempting to seriously injure another man when he stabbed him with a knife on Thursday evening at the Ħal Far open centre.

Salem Elaidy, 21, who was born in Tunisia, told the police he was continuously picked on by other Libyans who were darker and “more Libyan-looking” than he was. He was charged with slightly injuring Dahir Abdirasul and possessing a knife during the commission of a crime.

Mr Elaidy claimed he was not the one to trigger off the fight and had acted in self-defence.

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