A 35-year-old man was acquitted of seriously injuring a man during a fight in a Żabbar band club after a magistrate noted the victim gave three different versions of events.

Anton Vassallo, from Żabbar, was cleared of injuring Donio Vella during a fight at the St Michael band club’s bar in the afternoon of August 16, 2009.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke heard Mr Vella say he noticed a fight was starting to brew near the bar’s toilets and his sister was in the area.

When he went to check on his sister he ended up in the fight.

He said Mr Vassallo punched him and, when he fell to the ground, he hit his head on a step.

However, he forgave Mr Vassallo and they had become friends since the incident.

But the magistrate noted that Mr Vella had told one police officer he had slipped, yet claimed he was pushed to another.

Mr Vella’s mother said she saw her son being pushed but all other witnesses did not remember the details as there were several people involved in the brawl.

After examining the evidence the magistrate ruled that Mr Vella was the main witness.

Given the conflicting versions, she was not satisfied the case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Police Inspector Robert Said Sarreo prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri represented Mr Vassallo.