Two ice cream vendor families were in court yesterday after their relationship went into temporary meltdown and they attacked each other over a parking issue just after the Lija feast on Sunday.

Raymond Cutajar, 53, and his sons George, 24, and Jean Paul, 20, got into an argument with George Camenzuli, 47, and his son Joseph, 18, at around 1 a.m. after Mr Camenzuli asked the Cutajars to move their ice cream truck.

However, 45 minutes later, the truck had still not moved and despite bucket loads of ice cream, temperatures reached boiling point and the men attacked each other.

Police Inspector Kevin Farrugia testified that Mr Cutajar was hit on the head with a power-wash hose while Mr Camenzuli was scratched across the face.

He said that if the men were granted bail, it would be a difficult situation, since they parked next to each other at village feasts and shared a generator.

Lawyer Martin Fenech said that his client, Mr Camenzuli, had simply asked the Cutajars to move their van and was attacked for no reason at all. His clients, he added, had been bitten.

Defence lawyer Marion Camilleri said her clients too had been attacked, however they did not want matters to escalate and would prefer to resolve them.

Looking at the men, Magistrate Anthony Vella, making light of the situation, asked them if they wanted to make ice cream in prison as there was a prison warder standing at the back of the court room who liked ice cream a lot.

He asked the lawyers if it was possible for their clients to make up and be friends, and resolve the situation peacefully instead of dragging it through the courts.

George Camenzuli said they used to be best of friends until this incident, adding that he had known Mr Cutajar’s children since they were little boys. He too did not want to take the matter any further and suggested they all shook hands. The magistrate said he had been going to suggest this.

George Cutajar said that Mr Camenzuli had indeed asked him to move the van but because he was serving customers, Mr Camenzuli lost his temper as he couldn’t wait 10 minutes.

Mr Camenzuli shot back saying it was more like 45 minutes than just 10.

The men pleaded guilty to breaching the peace, George Cutajar admitted to breaking a glass display window, while Joseph Camenzuli admitted to breaking a neon sign. The Cutajars also admitted to injuring George Camezuli.

The magistrate told the men to quieten down and asked them to shake hands, which they did.

He conditionally discharged them for one year and placed them under €1,000 guarantee which they will lose if they get into another fight within a year.