A 30-year-old man from Hamrun was this morning acquitted of seriously injuring another man during a fight because the prosecution failed to prove its case.

The alleged fight took place at Liberty Bar in Hamrun in September 2009. Etienne Vella was drinking at the bar when a drunk Enrico Camilleri went in and charged at Mr Vella, requesting his money back.

Mr Vella allegedly punched Mr Camilleri in the face, fracturing his nose.

However, Mr Camilleri opted not to testify in the case against Mr Vella so as not to incriminate himself.

Police Sergeant Conrad Debattista had testified that the police were on the lookout for Mr Camilleri because of several reports that he was breaching the peace.

It had also been reported he had been armed with a knife or a taser gun.

Mr Camilleri's fiancée, Lorraine Cassar, said that on the night in question she had been at Liberty Bar and although she could confirm there was a fight, she did not know how it started.

She said that the accused owed her fiancé €4,000. Ms Cassar denied that her fiance had had a knife or a taser gun and said he had only been carrying a mobile phone.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani said the prosecution had failed to produce enough evidence to prove its case.

The evidence had been limited to the police report and the only witness did not know how the fight started. Moreover, her evidence was also very weak.

Defence lawyer Jose Herrera appeared for Mr Vella.