A heated argument between two groups last summer at Marsalforn over a relationship that had fizzled out prompted a Magistrates’ Court to deplore such ‘time-wasting’ proceedings, while quoting a local songwriter who sang about the workings of the heart.

Steven Vella, 27, Adrian Vella, 21, and Jason Pace, 24, all three from Gozo, had ended up in a heated altercation with a group at a Marsalforn car park one July evening.

A common factor linking the two factions had pointed in the direction of a young woman and the argument appeared to have sprung from a relationship which had broken down.

Shaun Farrugia, a 22-year-old San Ġwann resident, forming part of the group, was also separately charged over his alleged involvement in the same incident.

While concluding that the prosecution had failed to prove the accusations of breach of peace, slight injuries and voluntary damage to third party property in respect of the three Gozitan men, the court, presided by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, remarked that the courts were not to be reduced to a ‘nursery school’ where parties sought to solve such disputes at the expense of precious time lost for the courts and the police.

Pondering over the way relationships could end, magistrate Mifsud cited lyrics from local singer Mike Spiteri who sang Fejn tħobb il-qalb jimxu r-riġlejn, pointing out that trouble brewed when parties refused to accept such a reality and serious consequences arose when third parties became involved.

The three co-accused were cleared of all charges, save for one minor charge and were each given a reprimand and admonition.

In the other case, Mr Farrugia was acquitted of having allegedly harassed the other three men, pushing two of them in the scuffle.