A Somali man charged with trying to kill a fellow countryman claimed he was acting in self defence after the victim charged at him in a garden in Marsa.

Last Friday’s incident was the culmination of a string of arguments about money between the accused, Abdulnasir Mohammed Abdullahi, 23, and the victim, Mohammed Haji Abdilwahid, 25.

Police Inspectors Kevin Farrugia and Carlos Cordina testified that during interrogation Mr Abdullahi told them the victim had been annoying him for some time.

He was always asking for money or to pay for beer. On the night of the incident he had had enough of this behaviour.

After drinking vodka and a few beers, they had another argument and the accused told the police he brandished a penknife to scare the victim off but Mr Abdilwahid charged at him so he stabbed him in the stomach in self defence, the officers said.

Further investigations indicated the incident had occured in a garden behind the Marsa police station and a trail of blood led from there to the station, where the victim was found.

The case continues.