A fight in which two hot dog vendors crossed sausages over a parking spot outside a popular night club ended with one of them in court after he allegedly punched the other in the face.

Alexander Camilleri, 39, from Gudja, who also happens to be a long serving soldier, got into an argument with 30-year-old Adrian Sarcia who claimed to have been allocated the spot Mr Camilleri occupied for the past 10 years, the court heard yesterday. The incident happened on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Ta Qali just outside the Numero Uno nightclub.

Defence lawyers Edward Gatt and Joseph Giglio told the court that while it was true Mr Camilleri had punched the other vendor, the court had to look into the circumstances of the case.

The victim had been assigned the spot by the police but the same one had also been given to their client and this caused friction because both of them thought they had the right to use.

The lawyers argued this was not a case where their client should not be granted bail, especially since he was a soldier who had served for 20 years. That fact alone was also a deterrent, they said. He also had a clean police record.

Mr Camilleri is pleading not guilty to attempting to cause serious injury to Mr Sarcia, insulting him and breaching the peace. Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna granted him bail against a personal guarantee of €1,000.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia prosecuted.