A bar manager was charged with threatening to kill police officers who turned off loud music in the early hours of Sunday.

Italian national Vincenzo Brancaccio, 48, pleaded not guilty to threatening and assaulting two officers at O’Sarracino in St Julian’s at about 5.20am.

He was also charged with breaching the peace, disobeying police and being drunk in public.

Police inspector Jason Sultana said that after receiving a report of noise coming from the bar managed by Mr Brancaccio, police went to the venue and turned off the music.

The accused threatened to kill the officers and assaulted a sergeant by pushing him to the floor, damaging his spectacles and mobile phone.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio said Mr Brancaccio’s partner told police she was responsible for the bar and they should take her details. But officers insisted on taking his and the situation escalated.

He also pointed out that recent amendments to the Criminal Code led to drastic increases in punishments in cases where public officers were assaulted. The maximum jail term increased from 18 months to four years, and was now accompanied by hefty fines. Dr Giglio asked Magistrate Natasha Galea Sciberras to appoint a doctor to examine his client and his partner.

Inspector Sultana said that Mr Brancaccio never asked to be examined by a doctor while in police custody. Dr Giglio added that, even fully dressed, some wounds on his client were evident and it was the duty of police to refer him to a doctor.

Mr Brancaccio, who lives in St Julian’s, was granted bail against a €500 deposit and a personal guarantee of €6,000.