An unfortunate misunderstanding landed one angry father in hot water when he punched a man he believed threatened his young son, only to discover that he had punched the wrong person.

Danrof Vella, a 29-year old construction worker from Żabbar, pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment to grievously injuring the victim, possibly causing him a permanent disability as well as assaulting him.

Prosecuting Inspector Eman Hayman explained how the charges had stemmed from a “misunderstanding” which ended up in a violent episode on Monday afternoon which, in turn, landed the man in court on Thursday.

It had all begun when the man’s 11-year old son told his father how he had been offended by a stranger, attempting to give a description of the unknown man who had been wearing a cap.

In the heat of the moment, the father went to the town's square and in an unprovoked manner, flung a punch in the face of a man who appeared to fit the description given by his son.

The punch went terribly wrong, leaving the unsuspecting victim with severe eye injuries, Inspector Hayman concluded.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono, when making submissions on bail, informed the court that his client’s son had reportedly undergone some 30 surgical interventions and that his father had been incensed by the fact that the stranger had told the boy “I’ll send you six feet under the ground”.

In light of such submissions, duty magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, upheld the request for bail against a personal guarantee of €10,000, an order to sign the bail book three times a week and a curfew.

The court also issued a Protection Order, warning the father not to approach the victim in any manner.

Lawyer Yanika Vidal was also defence counsel.