A man recounted in court yesterday how a bouncer at a Paceville bar grabbed him by the arm and hit him in the face with his knee after he offered to buy a drink for a woman there.

Joseph Falzon appeared in court with an arm in a sling and stitches on his face to testify during the arraignment of George Galea, a bouncer at Browns bar, who was charged with seriously inuring Mr Falzon on May 27 at about 4 a.m.

Mr Galea, 36, of Tarxien pleaded not guilty to injuring Mr Falzon and to breaching the peace.

Mr Falzon told Magistrate Doreen Clarke that he lived in America and was in Malta on holiday.

On the evening in question he went to eat at Marsascala with friends and family as he was meant to leave Malta on May 27 at about midday.

After the meal a group of people decided to go to the Paceville bar, Browns, where Mr Falzon's cousin worked.

During his holiday here he had been to the bar a couple of times before.

While he was there on the night of the incident he had offered to buy a drink to a woman by the bar when he suddenly felt someone grab him by the arm.

The attacker, who he identified as Mr Galea, pushed him out of the bar and then hit him with his knee in the face and also kicked him, he testified.

At the end of the sitting, the magistrate ruled there were sufficient reasons for Mr Galea's indictment.

Mr Galea was granted bail against a €400 (Lm171) deposit and a personal guarantee of €3,000 (Lm1,288).

Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.

Lawyers Veronique Dalli and Chris Cardona appeared for Mr Galea.

Lawyer Marion Camilleri represented Mr Falzon.