Jurors in the trial by jury of a man accused of attempted murder are expected to retire to deliberate today.

The 34-year-old Libyan national, Hesham Mohammed Shabosh, is pleading not guilty to trying to kill Tunisian Omar Mohammed Baccouche during an argument near the mosque in Paola at 8.30 p.m. on October 18, 2004.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono heard how Mr Shabosh had admitted to the police that he had hit Mr Baccouche, adding he had only wanted to scare him away.

The victim was struck in the arm with a trowel, used for plastering, which left him with a permanent disability and without any sensation in the fingers of his left arm.

Testifying on Monday, Police Superintendent Silvio Valletta said that the incident had been over the victim's children allegedly bullying Mr Shabosh's children.

Mr Shabosh testified that he was acting to defend his uncle who was also involved in the fight and only wanted to scare the victim.

Lawyer Maurizio Cordina, from the Attorney General's office, prosecuted.

Lawyers Chris Cardona and Mark Vassallo appeared for the accused.