Patrick Grixti, 33, who stands accused of attempted murder by running over another man, told a jury this morning that the victim, Francis Farrugia, had repeatedly punched him, even while he was sitting in his car, and he had panicked.

Mr Grixti said he had never had any incident before, and certainly never got into any fights.

On the day in question he had been driving behind a refuse truck. The car belonging to Mr Farrugia reversed and hit his car.

Mr Farrugia got out of his car and started swearing at him. Mr Grixti said that he then got out of his vehicle. The garage truck driver intervened and held Mr Farrugia back.

Mr Grixti said he got back into his car and started to reverse because Mr Farrugia's car was in the middle of the road. The whole thing, he said, happened in a few seconds. Mr Farrugia started hitting him through the window and also hitting his car. He suddenly saw the truck moving a little forward and in a panic he drove forward.

After the accident two girls approached him and told him that their father was under the car. He denied ever having told the girls 'let him die' as Mr Farrugia told the court yesterday.

Mr Grixti denied hitting Mr Farrugia in the face with his keys and said that as soon as he could get out of the scene he did so.

When questioned by the jurors, the accused said he did remember people lifting his car to get Mr Farrugia out from underneath.