A 32-year-old man from Cospicua was today granted bail against a personal guarantee of €5,000 after he pleaded not guilty to seriously injuring another man in Marsascala on Monday.

Gerald Callus allegedly assaulted Mario Barbara, 31, of Marsascala with a truncheon at Summer Bar in St Thomas Street.

He was also charged with breaching the peace, threatening a bar customer and threatening Mr Barbara.

Lawyer Michael Sciriha said his client was continually harassed by Mr Barbara who kept involving himself in the relationship his client had with the mother of his (Mr Callus's) children.

It was this, he said, which spurred the argument. He added that violence was never justified.

Police Inspector Robert Said Sarrea said he was afraid the accused would tamper with evidence due to anxiety issues.

Asked by the magistrate what this meant, Police Inspector Sarrea said Mr Barbara used to go out with the accused’s cousin “who he had made to suffer a lot”.

He said he was afraid that Mr Callus’s son, who was still a baby, would suffer as well.

A protection order in favour of the victim was also issued.