Feeling a rush of pellets up the back of her head, Sylvana Callus collapsed onto the floor after being shot by an enraged gunman who was "out to get revenge".

She was the main victim of the shooting at the Mqabba Nationalist Party club in December, over which Carmel Saliba, 31, is being charged with the attempted murder of 20 people. He is pleading not guilty.

Testifying with her arm in a sling yesterday, Mrs Callus said she had been having a pre-Christmas dinner with friends and family at the club when the accused walked in looking very agitated.

He claimed he had been punched by her brother, Michel Farrugia, on the day after polling in the general election and had returned for revenge.

After a brief tussle, the accused and Mr Farrugia were pulled apart. But the former then turned to the crowd at the bar and said: "I will get you back". He left in a huff and returned with a shotgun, Mrs Callus said.

She was outside when he reappeared but managed to run into the club and close the door together with John Leonard. She had walked perhaps two or three steps when she felt the sudden rush of lead pellets hitting her in the back, head and arm.

She lost consciousness and hit the floor only to return to her senses some time later to shouts of panic and the sound of breaking glass.

Noticing her left arm in a sling, Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani asked Mrs Callus whether she was still suffering from her wounds. The victim replied she still had pellets lodged in her hand, back and arm, which cause her great pain.

The case continues.