A Libyan man who wanted cocaine for free was stabbed in the stomach and then got a lift to hospital where he walked in trying to keep his bowels inside, a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit testified that soon after the incident on the evening of July 22, 2010, Noel Farrugia confessed to stabbing Faiz Omar el Sallak, known as Il-Faiz.

He told the police he had a cocaine and heroin addiction.

On the night of the incident, he was at his apartment and Mr el Sallak expected to get drugs without paying.

Mr Farrugia, 35, from Marsa, also known as Il-Giża, is undergoing trial by jury, accused of Mr el Sallak’s attempted murder and with being in possession of an illegal weapon.

Mr Zammit, who was investigating officer, said he had been informed by Mater Dei Hospital that a person suffering from a stab wound had been dropped off outside the Emergency Department by a private car.

“I went there and found the victim, Mr el Sallak, a Libyan national who has been in Malta for several years. He was on a stretcher and his bowels were visible.

A number of doctors and nurses were trying to keep his bowels inside until he was taken to the operating theatre,” the police officer said.

He said that when the police arrived at the Marsa flat where the incident allegedly occurred, they found the front door ajar but nobody inside.

They also noticed that the floor had just been cleaned.

However, they could still see some blood on the ground, on the kitchen cupboard and on a curtain.

Medical doctor Karl Refalo recalled that Mr el Sallak had walked into the Emergency Department holding his bowels after having been stabbed on the left side of his stomach.

He said it was such a serious injury the victim was immediately taken to the operating theatre.

The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael Mallia, continues today.

The prosecution is led by lawyers Vincienne Vella and Kevin Valletta, from the Attorney General’s office.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo are representing the accused.