A driver has pleaded not guilty to pushing an elderly man to the ground, fracturing his hip, during a heated argument over a parking spot.

The accused, Paul Spiteri, 39, of Swieqi, told police that he was the one who had been assaulted.

He claimed elderly Luigi Dalli threw a punch but barely brushed him, lost his footing and fell over injuring himself.

Mr Dalli, however, claims he was thrown to the ground by Mr Spiteri, who was angry that he had taken a parking spot he wanted.

Taking the witness stand yesterday, Mr Dalli told Magistrate Carol Peralta that on July 12 he drove down to Spinola Bay to buy fresh fish.

Not finding anywhere to park, he waited in his van near the police station until a spot became available.

After about 10 or 15 minutes, a car pulled out near Toni’s Bar and he drove around to take the space. However, he found a third man blocking his path, shouting that a friend of his was about to park there.

Mr Dalli said if he did not move he would call the police. At that point another car came out of a parking space two spaces down and the man left. Mr Dalli parked and got out of his van.

Elderly man drove up but was told someone was about to take the space

He said Mr Spiteri then approached him and hit him. He turned and almost fell, but held on to his van, but the accused pushed him to the ground.

Defence lawyer Stefano Filletti said the version of the accused was different: that Mr Dalli got out of his van and tried to punch him.

Mr Spiteri darted out of the way and Mr Dalli lost his balance, fell and injured himself. Mr Dalli denied that was the case.

Taking the witness stand, Joseph Briffa, the man who had been keeping the car space, said he was Mr Spiteri’s friend.

They had gone to St Julian’s in separate cars.

He had parked and as he walked along he saw a free space and called out to Mr Spiteri to park there.

Mr Dalli drove up but he told him his friend was about to take the parking space.

Mr Dalli then drove at him, touching his knees with his vehicle, and warned him to get out of the way, Mr Briffa said.

Mr Briffa told Mr Spiteri that they should leave and Mr Spiteri got into the passenger seat of his car.

According to the witness, Mr Dalli then approached them angrily. Mr Spiteri got out of the car and Mr Dalli tried to throw a punch at him but he lost his footing and fell.