A man stripped naked in the courtroom upon hearing that he had been denied bail today, forcing two police officers to lead him away amid loud protestations.

Maxamed Cabdi Xasan, 22, currently living in San Ġwann, was charged with having yesterday evening threatened to kill another man who he suspected had robbed him. The man was also charged with being a relapser.

Mr Xasan had reportedly returned to his apartment in a drunken state and upon discovering that he was allegedly missing his mobile and a pair of shoes, jumped to the conclusion that a fellow Somali who lived nearby had snatched them from his apartment.

When confronted by the accused, who was armed with a knife as he threatened to kill him, the other man ran off to the nearest police station with Mr Xasan giving chase.

Mr Xasan allegedly told police that he would kill the man who had robbed him of his possessions, although later in court he confessed that he had no intention of carrying out his threat. A police search at the neighbour's flat yielded no mobile.

Asked by the court whether he admitted to the charges, the accused embarked upon a lengthy explanation of how he had been aggrieved by his co-national, protesting his innocence all along.

The court, presided by magistrate Francesco Depasquale, after registering a not guilty plea proceeded to hear submissions on bail. In view of the fact that witnesses still had to be heard, the court decreed that bail was to be denied at this stage.

"How can I go to jail? I have my rights!" the accused burst out as the prospect of spending time behind bars dawned upon him. "If I go to jail I will kill myself. Better to die," the man cried out in despair.

The presiding magistrate tried to calmly explain that the accused would receive any help he needed in jail, but the sobbing man refused to listen.

When two police officers stepped in to lead him away, with one deft movement the man suddenly stripped off his tracksuit bottoms and underpants, and firmly stood his ground before the stunned reaction of all those present in the courtroom.

Although the officers finally cornered the accused and managed to make him put on his clothes, the man still resisted being taken away. "No! No! I cannot go to prison. It will go to my head," the young man shrieked.

His cries rang out in the almost empty corridors of the law courts as the police led him down to the lockup.

Inspector Matthew Spagnol prosecuted. Lawyer Martin Fenech was legal aid.