A man injured in a shooting in Zebbug on April 16 had to have a finger amputated and was in danger of losing his hand, a court heard yesterday.

George Falzon, who was himself injured in the same incident, said his father, Henry, required treatment in the UK following the shooting as doctors here were contemplating amputating his hand.

He said his father was still in the UK as he needed further treatment.

He was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Nazzareno Micallef, 37, of Zebbug, who is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of Henry, Joseph, George and Daniel Falzon, to seriously injuring Henry Falzon and slightly injuring the three others.

Micallef also stands charged with keeping and carrying a shotgun and ammunition without a licence, firing the gun in public, causing over Lm500 damage to Henry Falzon`s Isuzu Trooper and with holding Marilyn Chircop against her will.

George Falzon testified that on April 12 he was opening the family`s petrol station when hunters, friends of theirs, called saying that il-patla (the accused) had threatened them and told them not to go to hunt again in his fields. Falzon said he told them to leave and not to go there anymore for the time being in order to avoid more problems.

He said he later went to a field, owned by the family, accompanied by his nephew Daniel to repair some rubble walls. He went there late in the morning to ensure the accused would have left for work. But soon after they arrived, he saw the accused who was swearing and shouting while walking in their direction.

He said the accused had told him to stop sending hunters to his fields and Falzon said he replied the fields belonged to his family as they had been bought from the accused`s mother.

The witness said the accused then went to fetch his shotgun, loaded it and went back to them.

"Daniel was frightened and started hugging me and the accused put the gun to his head and told me to let go off him so that he would blow him to pieces and then kill me with another shot. He thought Daniel was my son," the witness said.

The witness said the accused kept threatening them for about half an hour.

"He started putting the gun to my head or to Daniel`s head. He then hit Daniel on his side and back with the barrel of the gun and thrust the barrel in my mouth and started fingering the trigger. I grabbed the gun barrel and as I swayed the gun away from my face, he pulled the trigger and fired a shot which passed between us.

"My father Henry and brother Joseph arrived and he started threatening them too and a police car came shortly after. The accused told us he would come to the petrol station and then left."

He said the police had tried to calm them down and a report was filed. They were advised to get medical certificates about their injuries.

He explained how they went to the petrol station and then left for the polyclinic but as they were going around the roundabout in Zebbug he saw the accused shooting at them from the roundabout.

Falzon told the court the accused loaded his gun several times and he could see him picking up the spent cartridges. He said he was hit, as were his father, brother and nephew.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Carmelo Magri and Silvana Agius prosecuted.

Dr Michael Sciriha, Dr Gavin Gulia and Dr John Attard Montalto appeared for Micallef.

Dr Emanuel Mallia appeared in parte civile.