A 19-year-old man from Ghana today pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm after a court heard how he allegedly stabbed another man in the head.

The incident took place late on Saturday night in Naxxar.

Nana Agyeman Maxwell was arraigned before Magistrate Audrey Demicoli on Sunday afternoon.

A witness, Ognen Gurbach, from Macedonia, said he had witnessed the attack. The man said he was working at the Naxxar church when he heard two men arguing. The witness said the accused was holding a stick in one hand and a knife in the other.

Gurbach said he tried to intervene but Maxwell attacked the other man, hitting him first with the stick and then striking him on the head with the knife.

Maxwell then ran off, with the witness following. He was arrested some time later.

The victim, Francis Opoku, 34, also from Ghana, appeared in court with stitches on his head. He said he had been warned by another flatmate that the accused wanted to harm him.

Opuku said he and the accused had not spoken on Saturday but the two had an argument some weeks back, during which Opuku had slapped Maxwell. The police had been called in.

The court appointed medical expert Mario Scerri to examine the victim’s medical file.

The accused, who was represented by legal aid lawyer Francina Abela, did not request bail.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday.