A man who allegedly shot his brother-in-law in Valletta almost two months ago has been granted bail.

Unemployed Massimo Caruana, 35, stands charged with the attempted murder of Noel Mifsud when he allegedly shot him in the leg in Triq l-Ixprun, Valletta, on June 16.

He is also charged with carrying an unlicensed weapon during the commission of a crime, slightly injuring Mr Mifsud, threatening Mr Mifsud and his father, Alfred, and breaching the peace.

Mr Caruana, who has other pending criminal proceedings, some dating back to 2006, is further accused of breaching the bail conditions imposed in two pending cases and relapsing.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli upheld a request for bail against a €6,000 deposit and a €10,000 personal guarantee. She ordered him to be home by 9.30pm every day and remain indoors until 7 the following morning. He must also sign the bail book at the Valletta police station daily.

In a previous sitting, Alfred Mifsud testified that during an argument on the sale of a car, the accused produced a handgun from the back of his trousers and shouted: “I’ll shoot you! I’ll shoot you.”

The incident was the culmination of a long-standing dispute between two families over a car purchased jointly by a couple who is now separated.

Alfred Mifsud told the court he had dated Mr Caruana’s mother, Anna, and when their relationship ended, he expected her to return the Peugeot they had bought together.

Mr Caruana’s partner, with whom he has two children, is Alfred Mifsud’s daughter.

Alfred Mifsud recounted that, on the day of the incident, he had accompanied his son to meet Mr Caruana but, all of sudden, he had heard a shot and saw a gaping hole in his son’s leg.

Medical doctor Jonathan Joslin informed the court yesterday that, although Noel Mifsud’s injuries were classified as slight, at this stage he was unable to rule out future complications.

Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted. Lawyer Charmaine Cherrett assisted the accused.