A doctor has again been stopped from giving testimony for a second time in the case against the man accused of trying to kill the director general of the GRTU.

Sandro Chetcuti, a former council member of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise – GRTU, is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of Vince Farrugia.

Consultant radiologist Anthony Samuel had testified on the nature of Mr Farrugia’s injuries but his report contrasted with the conclusions drawn by a court-appointed pathologist, Mario Scerri, who said the injuries sustained were not as serious as described by Dr Samuel.

A third opinion on the injuries has been sought.

In the last sitting, the Attorney General had asked Dr Samuel to re-testify and elaborate on his conclusions but this was blocked with fierce objections from defence lawyers who claimed it was not legally correct for him to do so. Yesterday the same request was made by lawyers representing Mr Farrugia but defence lawyers referred to the decision taken by Magistrate Edwina Grima, who had stopped him from testifying.

The magistrate decreed that he should not take the witness stand again.

The defence said a decision should be taken only after the third medical report had been drawn up by an independent court-appointed expert and presented to the court.

The case continues.