A gardener was yesterday charged with seriously injuring a bystander during a Paceville brawl early yesterday.

Self-employed Jonathan Sammut, 25, from Swieqi, was accused of seriously injuring 40-year-old Bulgarian Veselin Toshev, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time: at a bar in St Rita Street at about 1am.

Defence lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell told Magistrate Aaron Bugeja that a fight broke out between his client and some other people and a glass was hurled during the commotion, hitting Mr Toshev in the face.

He said his client was not contesting the facts of the case that led to the incident, as well as the incident itself, but was pleading not guilty as he had not intended to commit the crime.

Police Inspector Luke Bonello said the victim suffered a deep laceration to his face and eyelid and his eye was scratched.

Magistrate Bugeja granted the Mr Sammut bail against a deposit of €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €5,000.