A road rage argument between two strangers on Monday morning has landed one of them in court where he was granted bail after pleading not guilty to seriously injuring the other driver.

Constantine Borg, a 51-year old self-employed Birkirkara resident, was arraigned on Tuesday and charged with having grievously injured the alleged victim in the punch up which broke out over a right of way argument in Attard.

The man was further charged with having breached the public peace.

Prosecuting Inspector Elton Taliana explained that the heated argument at the traffic lights shortly before 8am had escalated to such an extent that the accused had punched the other driver in the face, causing him injuries which had been medically certified as serious.

However, defence lawyer Franco Debono, explained that his client had supplied a totally different version of the incident. He made a request for bail.

That request was objected to by the prosecution primarily in view of the fact that the accused’s brother, who happened to be with the accused and who had witnessed the whole episode, was to testify in the proceedings.

Dr Debono promptly rebutted that the accused’s version had already been recorded in his statement and that he was still presumed innocent.

After hearing submissions by both parties, Magistrate Gabriella Vella upheld the request for bail against a deposit of €500, a personal guarantee of €3,000 and an order to sign the bail book twice a week.

Lawyer Amadeus Cachia was also defence counsel.

Lawyer Maxine Gatt appeared parte civile.