A bicycle rider allegedly came close to killing the driver of a car by slashing his neck in an argument over a broken mirror.

Daniel Briffa, 22, was riding his bike in Birkirkara on Sunday at about 2 a.m. when he knocked the side mirror off a car being driven by Nezar El Gadi, a court heard yesterday. The car belongs to Mr El Gadi's wife, Margaret Mifsud.

Mr El Gadi followed the cyclist down the road in the Ta' Paris area and approached him about the incident.

The two came to blows and Mr Briffa produced a penknife and slashed the victim across the neck just below his face, barely missing an artery, the police say. Mr Briffa stands charged with attempted murder, seriously injuring Mr El Gadi and damaging a second car parked on the same road.

The accused told the police in his statement that he was at a bar shortly before the incident.

Defence lawyer David Gatt requested bail, saying his client was innocent until proven guilty. If bail were granted there would be sufficient guarantees to bind his client to obey the court's orders, he argued.

Police Inspector Elton Taliana, however, expressed concern over the granting of bail saying the victim lived only three streets away from the accused.

Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona decided to grant bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000.

Lawyer Chris Cardona also appeared for the accused.

Mr El Gadi was released from hospital after treatment.