A man pleading not guilty to slashing a relative during an argument had admitted to stabbing the victim with forensic pathologist Mario Scerri, a court heard today.

Emanuel Salerno, 54, of is charged with seriously injuring Joseph Borg, 64, whom he stabbed on the face and throat during an argument over the family grave.

The argument started with a discussion on who was next in line to be buried in the grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery.

Testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Salerno, Dr Scerri said the accused had admitted to him that he had stabbed Mr Borg with a penknife belonging to the latter.

Mr Borg, he said, had had neck, ear and hand injuries and Mr Salerno had a defence injury on his hand.

Court expert Marisa Cassar said there was a lot of blood on victim’s clothes, in his car and on his towel. But the blood on the penknife, she said, did not match the victim’s.

Mario Caruana, a friend of both men, said that he remembered speaking to Mr Salerno on the day of the incident.

Asked if Mr Salerno had been angry, he said he could remember him swearing but could not remember whether he was angry or not.