A British tourist told the court this morning that two Maltese men hit him aggressively during a fight on September 12.

Gary Cooper, 29, was last week found guilty of injuring Noel Falzon, a security guard from Birkirkara. He was conditionally discharged for one month.

Mr Cooper was with his father Terence and his sister Michelle when they were involved in a fight with Mr Falzon, 21, and Anthony Muscat, 19, of St Paul’s Bay.

Mr Falzon and Mr Muscat were initially charged with Mr Cooper’s attempted murder and hitting Mr Cooper 13 times on the head with a pointed instrument.

But police inspector Therese Sciberras told the court this morning that she was withdrawing the attempted murder charge as there was no evidence to support it.

Court appointed doctor Mario Scerri testified that the injuries suffered by Mr Cooper were basically lacerations and abrasions to his head, including one on the forehead. He was, however, expected to make a full recovery.

Mr Cooper testified that on September 12, his father, sister and himself were on their way home after a meal driving along the road leading to Mosta Road in St Paul’s Bay.

A black Volkwagen Passat came speeding out of a side street and his father, who was driving the car, had to swerve out of the way to avoid an accident. He was unhappy about this and showed the middle finger.

He recounted that as his family got to the junction on Mosta Rd, they noticed that the Passat was chasing them and sounding the horn.

“They came alongside us and were shouting at the top of their voices, spitting at the car out of the window.

“They blocked the road and the passenger (Mr Muscat) got out and threw a plastic bottle full of water at our car.”

Mr Cooper said that at this point he got out of the car because Mr Muscat was walking towards them and he wanted to put himself between the aggressor and the car.

He said the man was swearing and “going crazy”.

“When I got out of the car he started hitting me with a sharp object on my head.

“I asked him what his problem was and he started slicing my head with the object. I pushed him away but he carried on.”

Mr Cooper said that the driver (Mr Falzon) also got out and began hitting him with what resembled a walking stick.

“This attack lasted two to three minutes. Blood was streaming on my face and because of this I could not see properly,” he said.

Mr Cooper said that his father and sister got out of the car to try and pull the aggressors off him but the driver turned and punched his sister in the face.

During cross examination by Gianella Caruana Curran, Mr Cooper admitted to drinking three small beers but denied calling the Maltese men bastards.

Ms Cooper also gave evidence corroborating what her brother had said.

The case continues.