A British tourist has been acquitted of grievous bodily harm following a poolside altercation at the db Seabank Hotel in Mellieħa, after a court ruled that the victim’s death was unrelated to the incident.

Liam Joseph Stacey, 38, was charged in July with inflicting grievous bodily harm on 38-year-old Roderick Sciortino during a confrontation at the resort.

The altercation began when a group of allegedly intoxicated Maltese patrons approached Stacey, who was at the pool area with his partner and toddler.

Evidence presented in court revealed that Sciortino slapped Stacey across the face, causing him to stumble and fall over his child. In response, Stacey struck Sciortino once in the face. A brief scuffle ensued before hotel staff intervened.

Sciortino was later admitted to Mater Dei Hospital, where he suffered a brain haemorrhage and fell into a coma. He died on 31 July after life support was withdrawn. However, expert testimony by court-appointed medicolegal specialist Mario Scerri established that Sciortino’s death was caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm and not by trauma sustained in the fight.