The police are treating the death of a man run over by a four-wheel-drive vehicle after a scuffle in Marsalforn on Wednesday as a murder investigation.

John Spiteri, 54, from Marsalforn was allegedly run over by a 63-year-old man from Żebbuġ after the two came to blows over the pruning of trees in a public car park in Qbajjar, limits of Marsalforn.

At a crime conference yesterday, the police refused to name the alleged aggressor, saying investigations were still under way.

The suspect is being treated at the Gozo General Hospital for grievous injuries he sustained during the incident. He has still to speak to the police.

Assistant Police Commissioner Raymond Zammit said the incident took place at about 3.30pm when Mr Spiteri and his 20-year-old son were pruning trees, preparing a space to set up their mobile kiosk for summer.

The alleged aggressor approached Mr Spiteri and demanded an explanation as to why he was pruning the trees. A fist-fight ensued.

At one point, the older man allegedly got into his Daihatsu Terios, a small 4x4, and drove in Mr Spiteri’s direction, running him over and even dragging him a few metres along the road.

The police said the alleged aggressor also drove over Mr Spiteri who was on the ground.

Mr Zammit said no weapons were believed to have been used and the incident was witnessed by a number of people who the police were interviewing.

Both men were taken to hospital in separate ambulances and Mr Spiteri succumbed to his injuries at about 8.30 that evening.

Mr Zammit said preliminary investigations indicated that the two men did now know each other and that what had happened was a “spontaneous” incident.

Mr Spiteri probably died of internal injuries. An autopsy will be carried out at 9am today.