A man accused of attempting to kill two people told the court this morning he started firing when the two beat him up, pushed him and threw stones at him.

Mariano Grixti, 49, of Zurrieq, is pleading not guilty to trying to kill Joseph Mifsud and his 15-year-ols son Redeemer in October 2005.

Mr Mifsud had ended up with 80 pellets in his body.

Taking the witness stand this morning, Mr Grixti said he was beaten up by the victims and he was so afraid of them that he grabbed the gun and started firing.

He said that the victims beat him up, pushed him on the floor and against a rubble wall and threw stones at him.

Dr Philip Galea Farrugia, from the Attorney General's Office, asked the accused how come he had only sustained superficial bruises seeing that he had been beaten up and stones were thrown at him.

Mr Grixti replied that he had not been hit by the stones as he managed to run away.

Dr Franco Debono and Dr Charmaine Charette appeared parte civile for the victims and Dr Joe Brincat appeared for the accused.

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