A Briton celebrating his wedding anniversary in Malta ended up with twelve stitches on his forehead after being allegedly hit with a bottle at a Paceville club, a court heard this morning.

The incident happened in the early hours of Monday at about 2.45am when Joseph Sean Vine and his wife Melissa, both from Portsmouth, were due to leave Havana Club after a night out.During their stay, the couple was residing at the Sliema apartment belonging to the woman's father, who is also British.

Andrea Galea, 19, from Mtarfa, this morning was arraigned before Magistrate Josette Demicoli and pleaded not guilty to grievously injuring the Briton in an attempt to put his life in danger. During the arraignment, the victim and his wife were summoned to testify straight away, as they were due to leave the island a few hours later.

However, the victim's version of events given in court contrasted sharply with the defendant's police statement. Mr Vine testified that he was on his way out of the club after going to the restroom, when the accused who was in the company of some friends, passed a "rude remark" on his appearance. Asked what happened next, the victim said that he took exception to the comment and when he challenged them for an explanation, the accused "smashed" a beer bottle on his head.

On his part the defendant claimed that the Briton had been injured in a fight allegedly triggered when the victim grabbed his buttocks and threw a cigarette at him while making an obscene gesture.

Asked by the defence how he had recognised the aggressor, the witness said he had identified him at the St Julian's police station when he was giving his statement. Though the lighting inside the club was dim, Mr Vine recalled that the accused was wearing a dark shirt but could not give a description of his friends saying they were about four. Mr Vine denied that he was holding a cigarette, contrary to the defendant's claim.

The court also heard that CCTV footage had been of no help as it was not clear enough to ascertain what had happened or identity those involved.

Cross examined by the defence, Mr Vine said that he had consumed about four cocktails at another club and a further five beers at Havana. But his wife Melissa, who took the witness stand immediately after him, told the court that her husband was drinking whiskey and beer as he had met a friend of his who was celebrating his birthday. She also pointed out that when the incident happened she was outside the club waiting for him, when all of a sudden he emerged with his face covered with blood. The wife insisted that her husband was not drunk.

The defendant was granted bail against a deposit if €1,000 and a personal guarantee of €1,500.

Lawyer Kathleen Grima was defence counsel whereas police inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted.