A builder who allegedly stabbed a colleague on the side of the head with a paint scraper in a heated argument has pleaded not guilty.

Brian Galea, 34, got into an argument with Joseph Sacco on a building site in Attard on Wednesday after Mr Sacco allegedly provoked him with taunts about his wife.

Mr Sacco was expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks, police sources said.

Mr Galea pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring Mr Sacco, provoking him and breaching the peace.

In requests on bail, defence lawyers Andy Ellul and Vince Micallef pointed out that their client had two children to take care of, one of them a newborn. He was also looking after two goats, four dogs and a horse.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani granted him bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana prosecuted.

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