A 23-year-old man was yesterday charged with permanently scarring the face of a 44-year-old man who allegedly harassed his teenage girlfriend in a Cospicua bar on Friday night.

Daniel Scerri, of Cospicua, pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring Rennie Lia when he allegedly assaulted him with a piece of broken glass.

Mr Lia, who appeared in court with a dressing over his nose and a line of stitches across the left side of his face, was also charged in a separate arraignment with assaulting and trying to seriously injure Mr Scerri on the same night. He too pleaded not guilty.

Mr Scerri's lawyer, Chris Cardona, said his client had acted in self-defence following "constant provocation" by Mr Lia.

"Rennie chose to harass Daniel's girlfriend. He then bit my client in the face and later hurled a glass at him. That was when Daniel defended himself," the lawyer said.

Mr Lia's lawyers, José Herrera and Veronique Dalli, argued that their client's version of events was "radically opposed" to that of Mr Scerri. Mr Lia claimed that he had been attacked.

As he pointed out his wounds to Magistrate Miriam Hayman, Mr Lia's lawyers explained that he had to undergo a skin graft operation to his nose as a chunk of flesh had been cut off during the struggle.

Both men were granted bail on condition they do not leave their home without the permission of the court. Mr Scerri was bound by a €2,000 deposit and a personal guarantee of €5,000 while Mr Lia was asked to deposit €1,500 apart from a €5,000 personal guarantee.

Police Inspector Fabian Fleri prosecuted.