A man was yesterday handed a suspended jail term for his part in an arson attack on the front door of a bar four years ago in Mrieħel.

Marius Scerri, 23, of Ħamrun, who was 18 at the time of the incident, was meant to stand trial by jury but after plea bargaining with the Attorney General the more serious charge of arson endangering life was reduced to arson without danger to life and he decided to admit to the charge.

Another man, Frederick Grech, 24 of Ħamrun, is awaiting trial in connection with the attack.

Mr Scerri had been charged with setting fire to the Saint’s Bar in Mrieħel in the early hours of July 8, 2006 after an argument with the mother of his child, Isaura Magri and the bar owner, Roberta Cutajar.

During the compilation of evidence, Ms Cutajar said that Mr Scerri had caused a scene at the bar in an argument with Ms Magri and at one point was escorted out by security staff.

About an hour later, she heard an explosion and stepping out onto the balcony she saw him run away from a fire that was spreading up the stairs and into the bar area on the first floor.

It later resulted that paint on the metal front door had caught fire.

She claimed that while he was in the bar earlier, Mr Scerri had hit his partner. When she ordered him out he threatened her.

Lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran appeared for Mr Scerri.