A man who tried to stop his 15-year-old granddaughter from having a relationship with a man twice her age was yesterday charged with trying to kill the man and injuring him with a sickle.

John Vassallo, 61, was arraigned together with his 25-year-old son Johann, both of Dingli.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder and also denied holding the victim, Josef Grech, 30, against his will on Friday evening in Mtarfa.

The girl’s grandfather had found out that Mr Grech was dating the girl and that the couple were refusing to split up, sources said.

Mr Vassallo and his son went in search of Mr Grech and found him in Mtarfa. They tied him to a chair and called the police but while officers were on their way, they allegedly hit him with a sickle and slightly injured him in the chest, the sources said.

During yesterday’s arraignment, defence lawyer Franco Debono requested bail but Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna remanded the two men in custody due to the seriousness of the charges.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.