Two of three brothers who claim were attacked by a police officer and his friend in Paceville on December 23 took the witness stand this morning telling the Court their version of events.

Matthew Debono, 28, insisted that he was attacked by Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia after he spat on the ground.

But Mr Cilia claims he was doing his job stopping the brothers from vandalising plants.

Inspector Cilia, 38, of Balzan and Giuseppi Farrugia, 39, of Għargħur, are pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Matthew, slightly injuring his brother Alek, 18, assaulting all three brothers and breaching the peace.

The incident, which occurred near the Eden Century cinema, was captured on CCTV and one of the brothers filmed it with his mobile phone.

Mr Cilia is also accused of assaulting Police Sergeant Ramon Mifsud Grech, disobeying orders, swearing and committing a crime he was duty-bound to prevent.

Mr Debono told the court that on December 23 at around 2.30 a.m., he was walking with his brothers next to the Intercontinental Hotel towards Swieqi.

He spat on the ground and almost immediately he heard someone protesting with him from behind because he had spat.

He turned and with a smile on his face asked the man who had told him off what did this have to do with him.

Mr Debono claimed that he and Mr Cilia approached each other and Mr Cilia punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Cilia crouched over him and continued to punch him while Mr Cilia's friend kicked him. He said that Mr Cilia took his brother's mobile phone with which he had filmed the incident.

Mr Debono said that when the police arrived, Mr Cilia was very aggressive with the police sergeant and even punched the cinema shutter, which was down.

Matthew's brother Omar, 21, also testified confirming Matthew's version.

He said he was hit by Mr Cilia's friend, fell to the ground and broke three teeth.

He said he remembered looking at his brother who was on the ground being beaten up by Mr Cilia.

The case continues.