A man expressed disbelief at being charged with assault, insisting he was defending a police inspector friend during a Paceville fight four years ago.

Christopher Farrugia was testifying in the case brought against him and Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia, who stand accused of attacking three young brothers after a night drinking.

Mr Farrugia contended that the youngsters attacked Mr Cilia, who was off duty at the time, when he stopped them from vandalising a plant outside the Intercontinental Hotel. Mr Cilia was suspended from service pending the outcome of the case.

According to testimony already heard, former police commissioner John Rizzo had warned Mr Cilia that his breath reeked of alcohol when interrogating him after the Paceville incident.

The brothers have claimed in court the incident happened after one of them spat on the ground and smiled at Mr Cilia. They insisted it was the off duty officer and his friend who attacked them.

Mr Farrugia said he intervened by pulling the biggest of the brothers away from Mr Cilia. He insisted no punches were thrown but a brawl ensued.

Under cross examination, Mr Farrugia said he had been at a dinner in Żebbuġ with Mr Cilia before heading to Paceville. Both consumed alcohol but he denied being drunk. The Paceville incident happened at 3am.

He admitted having taken a mobile phone from one of the youngsters and refusing to hand it back to him. Mr Farrugia said the young man was using the handset to film them and making fun of them. He said the phone was given to the district police when they arrived at the scene of the crime.

Mr Farrugia said the police did not arrest him or Mr Cilia on the night and both were allowed to leave. “In the morning, I was called in by the police and ended up being charged for defending a police inspector,” he said.

The case continues.

Police Superintendent Stephen Gatt is prosecuting.