A Żebbuġ man has been cleared of attempting to murder another man in a fight between two families in 2009 after a magistrate accepted he was acting in self-defence when he stabbed his victim with a large knife.

Despite telling the court he could not remember stabbing George Saliba, perforating his lung, the court ruled that George Farrugia, 63, was acting in self-defence to protect himself, his family and his property from the aggression.

The court heard how the families had been involved in clashes for a number of years due to bad blood between them.

The incident in question took place at around 7.15pm on July 1, 2009, in Triq Pawlu Debono when an argument broke out between the families over a garage adjacent to Mr Farrugia’s house, which was an inconvenience to him and other neighbours.

The court heard how when he was returning home that day, he was assaulted by the garage owner, Saviour Camilleri, and members of his family, including Mr Saliba. Mr Farrugia told the court that Mr Saliba hit him with a metal pipe while Mr Camilleri kicked him incessantly.

Mr Farrugia suffered a deep laceration to his head and three fractured vertebrae.

He said the knife that was used was kept in the drive-in because he used it for gardening and he grabbed it when he feared for his life and that of his family.

Mr Farrugia told Magistrate Miriam Hayman that he had been living “in hell” for 13 years before the incident because of trouble over the garage being used by Mr Camilleri, who worked as a mechanic without a planning authority permit. The neighbours had even signed a petition about it.

The court noted that there were contrasting versions of the same incident but according to court experts, the incident took place close to Mr Farrugia’s house, which indicated that Mr Saliba and his family first approached Mr Farrugia.

Magistrate Hayman ruled that the version given by Mr Saliba and his family, including that of Mr Camilleri, could not be believed and accepted the line of defence that Mr Farrugia was acting in self-defence to protect himself, his family and his property from the aggression.

The court also called on the Police Commissioner to investigate whether the garage over which the family feud began was covered by a permit and take action accordingly.

Police inspectors Daniel Zammit, Joseph Mercieca and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted. Lawyer Joe Giglio was defence counsel.