A man accused of injuring a friend with a dog tag was acquitted after the victim declared that although he had filed a police report against him, the accused was not the aggressor.

Noel Farrugia, 30, from Msida, had been charged with seriously injuring Denis Cremona in April 2010 in an argument over what Mr Cremona said at the time was a laptop.

Mr Farrugia denied causing the injuries and said that Mr Cremona had instigated the fight as he, Mr Farrugia, had owed Mr Cremona money. He said that he was not wearing a dog tag but a crucifix.

When Mr Cremona testified he said there were four or five other men present during the fight and he did not know or remember who had actually caused the injury.

Confronted with the police report in which he accused Mr Farrugia, Mr Cremona insisted he did not know who had injured him.

In the circumstances, Magistrate Audrey Demicoli acquitted Mr Farrugia of all charges.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for Mr Farrugia.