A man has been jailed for four years after he was found guilty of seriously injuring lawyer Tonio Azzopardi when he and his father assaulted him in his office in July 2006. 

Philip Camilleri, 35, from Marsa, and his father, also named Philip who died a month after the incident when he was runover by a truck, had been charged with the assault that arose over an €11,600 schedule of deposit over a separate case. 

Magistrate Marseann Farrugia jailed Mr Camilleri for four years over the assault, that left the lawyer with a perforated eardrum.

The incident took place on July 3 at 5.30pm. He was also found guilty of stealing €2,300, exercising a presumed right over his property and causing damage at his office.

Mr Camilleri has appealed the judgment. 

The court heard how Dr Azzopardi was legal counsel to Joyce Camilleri, the wife and mother of the accused, in a civil case that he had won at the beginning of 2006. 

At the end of the court case the Camilleris were to withdraw a schedule of deposit they had deposited in court. They later learnt that it had been in Dr Azzopardi's control and so they went to his office to demand the money once it belonged to them.

An argument broke out and Dr Azzopardi was assaulted by the father and son. Dr Azzopardi told the court that on the day in question he was inside his office with a few clients when someone knocked at the door and, when he opened, two men barged into the office and hit him repeatedly, mostly with blows to his head. 

He said that as soon as he opened the door, the youngest of the two started shouting and beat him until he fell to the ground. Even when he was grounded, the man continued to hit him and kick him especially in his head. The father also joined his son and repeatedly hit the lawyer who was on the ground. 

Dr Azzopardi said the incident must have lasted between six and eight minutes and he must have received around 40 blows in all, most of which directed at his head. He said he begged the men to stop hitting him and leave him alone.

Court experts testified that Dr Azzopardi had suffered a hearing disability of 21.6 per cent as a result of the assault.

Magistrate Farrugia said the court could not possibly believe the line of defence that it was Dr Azzopardi who had first assaulted Mr Camilleri Jnr who, the court observed, had shown "gross arrogance and prepotence" that manifested itself in physical violence that is "completely unacceptable in a civilised society". 

She therefore jailed him for four years and ordered him to pay €1,400 in court expenses.