A Maltese man has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a Tunisian man who is still fighting for his life after being hit on the head four days ago.

Shaun Demicoli, 36, of Birżebbuġa, denied seriously injuring Riadh Mrad and relapsing on March 2 at around 2am in the town’s Triq il-Bajja s-Sabiħa.

He did not want any suspicion to fall on his client of approaching them in any way

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio told Magistrate Neville Camilleri that he was not going to request bail for his client because the police had to speak to other people and he did not want any suspicion to fall on his client of approaching them in any way.

He pointed out that, on Saturday night, his client was at a private party for families, meaning there were children there, when the victim tried several times to get in. No instrument was used in the argument – “it was a fight,” Dr Giglio pointed out. The police had still to speak to a number of people and the judicial process would eventually reveal “whether it was legitimate defence because of certain actions,” he said.

Mr Mrad, who is from Marsaxlokk, received extensive head injuries and was found lying unconscious on the ground at around 2am.

He was rushed to hospital and is still in a critical condition.

Footage from nearby security cameras was taken by investigators and is being examined by experts.