Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/350843
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY 2014 News 4 DANIEL MIZZI JUSTIN Fenech, a former friend of convicted murderer Richard Grech – the man who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Alphonse Ferriggi nearly 14 years ago – confirmed in court yester- day that Grech had told him that Chris Scerri, known as 'Buttuni' or 'Gazzetti', and James Vella, known as 'il-Frejzer' were in fact accom- plices in the failed heist. Fenech was summonsed to testify in the case against Chris Scerri, 35, and James Vella, 33 who both are pleading not guilty to Ferriggi's murder on September 18, 2000. Ferriggi, a Bank of Valletta mes- senger, was killed with a single shot to the head. His attackers thought he was carrying money, which later turned out to be just bank mail. Questioned by prosecuting in- spector Keith Arnaud, Fenech told the court that he could not remem- ber anything he had told the police in 2002, during investigations into the murder. After repeatedly refus- ing to answer the questions, Magis- trate Josette Demicoli warned him about the consequences of perjury. Fenech testified that five days prior to the murder, he had met Ri- chard Grech at Mensija Bar in San Gwann, where the latter had spo- ken of a plan that "would make him a lot of money." "Some days after I heard of the murder, I heard that Grech had in fact committed it. When I asked him, he boasted of committing the murder but I did not believe him as he always exaggerated things." Frustrated at the lack of responses by Fenech, Inspector Arnaud read a police statement made by Fenech in 2002 when he had told the police that Grech had boasted about the failed heist, and that 'il-Frejzer' and 'il-Gazzetti' were his accomplices. Fenech, who during the compila- tion of evidence had his testimony suspended twice, confirmed that he had told that to the police in 2002, but insisted that he did not specifically mention the names of il-Frejzer and il-Gazzetti. Conversely, they were brought up by "one of the 10 CID officers sur- rounding him during interroga- tion." Asked by the court to iden- tify the accused, Fenech failed to do so, claiming that he does not know them. Cross-examined by defence law- yer Franco Debono, Fenech told the court that he did not believe Grech and he took everything with a pinch of salt, because Grech was known to exaggerate. The sitting also saw Inspector Arnaud request the court to repri- mand the relatives of the accused, arguing that they were trying to intimidate witnesses by passing comments during their testimo- nies. There was also a brief moment of tension when one of the accused sitting in the dock was heard call- ing the inspector a cuckold. The hearing will continue on 29 July. Terence Zahra, 31, of Marsascala, has been cleared of seriously injur- ing his aunt, Maria Liberata Gatt, in a tit for tat quarrel which resulted in the accused allegedly breaking his aunt's arm after she threw urine at him. The man and his aunt are neigh- bours and during court proceedings, it was noted that the feud between them had been ongoing for years due to sewage seeping from Zahra's property in Zejtun into the aunt's. But the feud reached new heights in September 2012, when the aunt took exception at the situation, and reported her nephew to the health department. On getting to know of this, Aunt Maria told Magistrate Neville Camilleri, Zahra went to her house, launching a diatribe of insults at her. The aunt said she went inside her house, grabbed a bowl into which the urine was seeping, and threw it at her nephew. Zahra then allegedly pushed her against the wall, breaking her arm. However, on their part, Zahra and his partner Vanessa Schembri re- butted the aunt's claims, telling the magistrate that it was Aunt Maria who insulted them before throwing urine at Zahra. The accused told the court that his aunt then ran away and slipped, breaking her arm when she fell. Magistrate Camilleri noted that the quarrel between the neighbours had been long-standing and some- times bitter, to the extent that some cases were reported to the police. Inspector Arthur Mercieca pros- ecuted. Witness in murder case warned about perjury Drunk husband handed suspended sentence for assaulting elderly wife Inquiry confirms force was used on Mount Carmel patient Court upholds bail for men accused of Matthew Zahra murder Woman throws urine at nephew in tit for tat quarrel ANTHONY Agius, of Birkirkara, was given a two year jail term sus- pended for three years and placed under a supervision order after be- ing found guilty of seriously injur- ing his 60-year-old wife. The attack, which the court noted had happened before, occurred on October 6, 2011, when the accused, who was in a drunken state, assault- ed his wife, seriously injuring her. Despite suffering serious injuries and being continuously threatened, the accused's wife, Concetta, with- drew a criminal complaint against her husband, forgave him, and begged him to return home. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, hearing the case, did not renounce criminal proceedings, noting that this was not the first time that the accused had assaulted his wife. In handing down judgement, the court noted that the victim had forgiven her husband and told the court that she wanted her husband back home. "This court finds it difficult to understand how a person who was assaulted in that way decides to withdraw her criminal complaint against the person who seriously injured her." "This withdrawal may send a wrong message that domestic vio- lence is excusable," the magistrate said. Magistrate Bugeja found the ac- cused guilty of seriously injuring his wife and of threatening her, and sentenced him to im- prisonment for two years, suspended for three. The court also placed him under a supervision order and ordered him to undergo treatment against his drink- ing habit. Inspector Pris- cilla Caruana pros- ecuted. A board set up by the Commission- er for Mental Health to investigate whether violence was used against a hospital patient on May 20, has con- firmed that force was used. In the incident a patient at Mount Carmel Hospital was allegedly beaten up by a member of the staff after the patient requested that the television station which was on at the time be changed from One tel- evision to TVM. 18 persons were interviewed dur- ing a total of four sessions, includ- ing the alleged victim, ward staff, the patient's social worker, as well as doctors and hospital management. While the board could not con- firm whether the patient had actu- ally been physically assaulted, it came to the conclusion that there were "a number of irregularities" in the way in which the patient had been injected with medication to be brought under control. The board said that action, includ- ing if necessary disciplinary action, should be taken and recommended that clear guidelines should be es- tablished on television use at the hospital and on what programmes are aired. This was especially the case for programmes of a political nature, it said. The board also recommended that basic training is given to the staff in order for them to show more sensi- tivity towards their patients. AN Attorney General appeal against the decision to grant bail to the men accused of murdering taxi driver Matthew Zahra in 2012 has been dismissed by an Appeals Court. The accused, Jason Galea, 39, of Birzebbugia, and Ronald Urry, 49, of Paola, are pleading not guilty to Zahra's murder. The two men were granted bail earlier this month against a deposit of €30,000 and a personal guarantee of €30,000. Jason Galea was also granted bail for his alleged part in the double murder of his brother-in-law, Mario Camilleri, known as 'l-Imniehru', and his 21-year-old son, Mario Jnr. Similar to his appeal against the court's decision to grant bail to the suspects of the Imniehru dou- ble murders, the Attorney General argued that bail must be revoked due to the "serious nature of the of- fence, and due to fear of relapsing and absconding." Moreover, the Attorney General held that more protection should be granted to Matthew Zahra's rel- atives – most notably Zahra's part- ner and father. Speaking to Malta- Today, Zahra's father, Vincent, had expressed disappointment and fear at the court's decision, arguing that his family was now "very vigilant." The request to revoke bail was strongly objected to by the de- fence lawyers who insisted that bail conditions already prohibit any suspects from approaching any witnesses – even those who have al- ready testified against them. In its decision yesterday, the Ap- peals Court, presided by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, dismissed the At- torney General's appeal, and upheld the bail for the two men. Despite the court's decision, how- ever, the accused have remained in prison because they have so far been unable to come up with the money needed for bail. Matthew Zahra was reported missing in August 2012. Initial police investigations had yielded no results, but a year later, a bag of bones purpotedly belonging to Matthew Zahra was discovered near the murdered bodies of Mario Camilleri and his 21-year-old son. As yet, DNA experts have been unable to confirm that the bones actually belong to Matthew Zahra. While the bones match those of the victim's mother, Veronica, it is still inconclusive as to whether they be- long to the victim himself, as they may belong to his siblings or cous- ins. A court has since ordered court expers to continue examining the bones in order to extract a full DNA picture. Lawyer Joe Giglio is representing George Galea while lawyer Franco Debono is representing Ronald Urry. Ferriggi, a Bank of Valletta messenger was killed with a single shot to the head. His attackers thought he was carrying money, but they were wrong