Jurors in the trial of a Romanian man charged with causing the death of a Sudanese man three years ago are expected to reach a verdict today.

The jurors must decide whether 29-year-old Antonel Dobre should he held responsible for the death of Osama Al Shazliay Saleh, 26.

Mr Dobre is pleading not guilty to seriously injuring Mr Saleh, known to his friends as Sunshine, in Paceville on March 17, 2012, at about 6am.

Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi concluded his summing up at about 4pm yesterday after a nine-day trial. The jurors deliberated until 7pm and will resume this morning.

Their verdict, expected today, will all depend on whether they believe the version given by Mr Dobre or the thesis of the prosecution.

The prosecution claims he hit Mr Saleh in the face knowing that the blow would hurt him. The blow in fact caused him to fall and hit his head. Mr Saleh suffered brain haemorrhage and died three days later.

But according to Mr Dobre, Mr Saleh had elbowed his Romanian friend, Radu Rica, in the nose while they were in a Paceville club.

Sometime later, when they walked out of the club, Mr Saleh walked angrily towards his friend and, as Mr Saleh was going to push Mr Rica, he intervened and pushed Mr Saleh who fell backwards and hit his head. He insisted that he wanted to defend his friend.

He said he was sorry for the way the incident ended and would live with remorse for the rest of his life.

Lawyers Kevin Valletta and Nadia Attard, from the Attorney General’s office, are prosecuting.

Lawyer Roberto Montalto is representing Mr Dobre while lawyer Larry Formosa is acting in parte civile.