The man charged with the attempted murder of 20 people at the Mqabba PN club on December 20 had allegedly told the president of the club that he had been punched by a patron after the election and he wanted to get his own back.

Testifying in the first day of the compilation of evidence against Carmel Saliba, 31, of Kirkop, president Michel Farrugia said he had told the accused that nobody from the club had punched him and that he should not make such accusations.

Mr Farrugia told the court that on the day of the incident he had organised a meal at the club. He went to his car to get his mobile phone and as he returned to bar, the accused walked past him into the bar looking very angry.

Mr Farrugia said Mr Saliba accused him of having punched him and an argument broke out between them. They came to blows and had to be separated by friends.

Before leaving the club, Mr Saliba promised that he would get his own back that night, Mr Farrugia claimed.

He said that shortly afterwards, somebody he was told that Mr Saliba had reversed his car into his. The police were called and as they were being told what happened Mr Saliba drove his van into the middle of the square.

Mr Farrugia said that as soon as he saw Mr Saliba get a shotgun out from the back of the van, he started to run inside the club and felt lead across his back.

His sister Silvana helped another man close the door.

Crying on the witness stand, Mr Farrugia said he saw his sister lying on the floor and thought she was dead.

He said that with the shotgun’s barrel, Mr Saliba broke a side window and tried to shoot again through it.

Club secretary Paul Spiteri confirmed the Mr Farrugia’s testimony and said he remembered that on the day after the election, while waiting for the results, Labour Party supporters were celebrating outside the PN club and Mr Saliba was conspicuous because he was on a wall wearing a t-shirt promoting hunting.

Mr Saliba is pleading not guilty.