Magistrate Dr Anthony Vella, presiding the Court of Magistrates, oversaw the start of the compilation of evidence against Abdulnasir Mohammed Abdullahi, the Somali who is charged with the attempted murder of Mohammed Haji Abdilwahid.

Police Inspectors Kevin Farrugia and Carlos Cordina took to the stand.  Inspector Farrugia gave testimony to the effect that last Friday, July 27 at around 18.00h, a call came in at the Marsa Police Station, saying that there was a man lying down on the floor covered in blood just outside the Station.

Inspector Cordina said that he had been contacted by the Police Headquarters' control room at around 18.30h whereby he was informed that there had been most likely an attempted murder case, with the victim being found in front of the Marsa Police Station.

Sergeant Susanne Mifsud, who was at Mater Dei Hospital on another case, upon being informed of the matter at around 18.45h, ordered the Police Constables at the scene to call an ambulance.  Soon after the victim arrived at hospital, where Dr Patrick Farrugia certified that the victim was in mortal peril.

Inspectors Cordina and Farrugia testified to the effect that after Inspector Cordina spoke with the victim as soon as he came to his senses, and Mr Abdilwahid told him that he had been attacked by a Somali man, in his twenties, whose surname was Abdullahi and who had already been found guilty of other crimes, particularly the theft of a car stereo.

The Police Inspectors conducted due checks, and Inspector Farrugia sought an arrest warrant against the accused as he was the only one who fit the description given by the victim, and the victim himself had confirmed that the accused was his attacker when shown a picture of him by Inspector Cordina.

The investigations led to the discovery of blood not only outside the Marsa Police Station, but also in Juan Mamo gardens just behind it, and even across the road in Balbi Street.

Upon being arrested and consulting with legal aid lawyer Dr Martin Fenech, Mr Abdullahi decided to release a voluntary statement.  He said that he really had stabbed Mr Abdilwahid, but he had done so in order to defend himself from the victim's harassment.  Mr Abdullahi said that he was drunk on the day, having drank a bottle of vodka and around 10 beers.

He had already had several fights with the victim, as the latter continuously harrassed him and asked him to lend him money or buy him beers.  On the 27th, Mr Abdilwahid again went up to the accused and asked him to buy him some beers.  Having grown tired of him, Mr Abdullahi took out his Swiss knife in order to scare him off.  However, the victim was not at all perturbed, as Inspector Cordina, upon being cross-examined by legal aid lawyer Dr Cedric Mifsud, defending Mr Abdullahi, confirmed that Mr Abdilwahid rushed towards the accused.

Upon seeing this, the accused allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest.

The victim, on the other hand, told Inspector Cordina that he had been stabbed twice, once in his forearm and once in his stomach.  It remains to be confirmed by Dr Patrick Farrugia where the injury actually is, but it has been confirmed that the Swiss knife entered the pleura and even punctured the victim's intestines.

The accused cooperated fully with the Police, even taking them to Belvedere Gardens where he had hidden his Swiss knife, which he told them he carried with him for the purposes of being able to fillet and eat fish whenever he pleased.

The case has been deferred for August 30.