Two friends ended up punching each other when one teased the other about losing a PlayStation game to a mere boy, a court heard yesterday.

James Agius, 21, of Floriana was playing on the gaming console in a DVD shop in Floriana with a 15-year-old on Wednesday. He was beaten and the boy challenged him to another game.

He turned down the challenge and his friend, Shilo Curmi, 30, asked him what he was scared of. At that, Mr Agius lost his temper and attacked Mr Curmi, punching him in the face.

Mr Agius was also hurt in the fight. He was charged yesterday with attacking and seriously injuring Mr Curmi and appeared in court with his right eye swollen and bruised.

The charges are of a serious nature because of the facial injury.

However, defence lawyers Veronique Dalli and Josè Herrera, argued that this was just a silly argument in which the victim was not badly injured. Their client admitted to attacking his friend and breaching the peace.

Magistrate Doreen Clarke agreed with Dr Dalli that a suspended jail term was not warranted so she placed Mr Agius under probation for two years.

Police Inspector James Grech prosecuted.