A fight at the Rabat Labour Party club last month which resulted in a man being seriously injured, started as a result of flirting, a court was told today.

During the fight, on February 17, Ivan Attard was grievously injured and Kenneth Micallef, 25, of Dingli were subsequently accused of his attempted murder.

During the first hearing on the case against Mr Micallef today, Mari aVassallo and her husband Herbert, who run the club opted not to testify so as not to incriminate themselves.

Taking the witness stand, Police Inspector Sarah Magri said that she was informed that there was a fight at the club and the police went on the scene.

Two injured people were inside - one of them so badly hurt  that he was certified to be in danger of dying.

The fight started when a woman, Shirley Camilleri, flirted with Christian Gauci.

The victim, Ivan Attard, tried to intervene and approached Mr Gauci holding a bottle. Mr Gauci punched the victim twice.

Other people took the victim out of the club and the brawl continued.

The Vassallos told the police that they saw the accused push the victim against a cigarette vending machine. At one point they also saw the victim on his knees.