A man who had reportedly shed his troublesome past has landed himself on the wrong side of the law yet again following his involvement in a fist fight in Żabbar during which he allegedly threatened his antagonist with a weapon.

Jesmond Portelli, a 33-year old construction worker of Żabbar, was at the centre of a heated argument two days ago which ultimately escalated into a fist fight that left him nursing a head injury, allegedly caused by a blow to the head with a metal rod. His injury had required suturing.

At one point, the man drove away in his car only to return, open the luggage booth and allegedly withdraw a shotgun which he brandished at his aggressors.

The whole episode was caught on CCTV, the court was told during Mr Portelli’s arraignment on Tuesday.

The man pleaded not guilty to having been in possession of a firearm whilst committing a crime against the person, causing his antagonist to fear violence, threatening him with the firearm, breaching the peace and swearing in public.

The man was further charged with relapsing and committing the offences while under a Probation Order issued in October 2016.

When making submissions on bail, defence counsel Roberto Montalto stressed that he had known his client for a long number of years and had witnessed the “drastic change” undergone by the man ever since he had made use of his time behind bars to reflect and make a conscious effort to quit his drug habit, the root of all his problems.

“My greatest fear is that this incident might trigger his very sorry past,” Dr Montalto remarked, pointing out that the denial of bail could also compromise the man’s stable job.

Yet, prosecuting Inspectors Eman Hayman and Paul Camilleri objected to the request for bail, pointing out that witnesses were still to testify and the man might commit another offence, also making reference to his criminal record.

Dr Montalto was quick to rebut that the alleged victims had not suffered an injury whereas his client had ended up with a head injury.

The prosecution informed the court that investigations in respect of the other persons involved in the fight were still ongoing.

In view of the circumstances of the case, the nature of the offences, particularly the fact that the man was charged with relapsing and with ignoring a Probation Order, as well as the fear of tampering with evidence, the court, presided over by magistrate Neville Camilleri, turned down the request for bail.

However, the court urged the prosecution to summon its civilian witnesses without delay.