A bar owner was acquitted of seriously injuring a man by biting off a large part of his nose after a magistrate ruled he had acted in self defence.

Carmel Micallef, 60, from Żebbuġ, said that, on November 9, 2008, the victim, Michael Farrugia, had entered his bar in Żebbuġ – Central Bar – about a month after having been involved in an argument with his brother. Mr Micallef said he told Mr Farrugia he was not welcome there.

He said that Mr Farrugia seemed to be drunk and then offered everyone a drink before he started swearing and shouting and grabbing a wooden stool to throw it at a glass cabinet.

Mr Micallef said he stopped him from damaging the cabinet and then told the six customers present, who were watching a football match, to leave the bar and they did. Mr Farrugia left too and got into his car that was parked nearby.

As Mr Micallef was locking up the bar he informed Mr Farrugia that he would be filing a police report. At that point, Mr Micallef said that Mr Farrugia lost his temper, got out of the car, pinned him against the vehicle and repeatedly punched him in the face.

He said he could not remember biting Mr Farrugia, adding that he was trying to defend himself from the punches.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli ruled that Mr Micallef had acted in self defence and so acquitted him of causing serious injury.

Lawyer Robert Abela appeared for Mr Micallef.