The last people to see Gozitan warden Fortunata Spiteri alive took the witness stand yesterday, some explaining how they saw her standing on the side of the road minutes before they learnt she had been involved in an 'accident' and others saying how they had tried to help.

Warden Aldo Cauchi spent about five minutes with her before moving on to see whether the next warden down the road needed anything, the Magistrates' Court heard.

Cauchi, who was duty officer on August 10, said he had done the round of wardens, as he would when he was on duty, to see if they needed anything.

He had stopped near Spiteri for about five minutes and then moved on to the next warden further up the road. While he was still near the next warden, a man drove up to them and told them that Spiteri had been involved in a traffic accident.

Cauchi testified in the compilation of evidence against John Attard, 56, of Xaghra, and Giuseppe Farrugia, 71, of Fontana, who are pleading not guilty to Spiteri's wilful homicide on August 10, 2001, at about 9.45 p.m.

They are also charged with the possession of a dagger without a licence and at the time of the commission of the crime.

Attard alone is also charged with relapsing.

Cauchi yesterday said he and the warden left immediately for the scene of the accident and found the car on the other side of the road crashed into the central strip. There were some people trying to give Spiteri first aid. She was still in the car covered in blood.

Minibus driver Mario Xuereb said he had been on his way to Gharb when he saw a lit torch lying in the middle of the road and spied the victim in her car. He could only see her from the shoulder up but could hear her moaning in pain.

Two people in a Honda were standing nearby and he called out to them to call an ambulance and drove on to Gharb to drop off his clients and find a police station.

Nurse Raymond Cini said he had seen Xuereb arrive at the square in Gharb and inform the police that there had been an accident and help was needed.

Cini said he went to the scene to see what he could do. He found Spiteri in shock and was taking what seemed to him to be her last breaths. Another person was trying to hold her head up and together they lay her down on the seat and gave first aid until the ambulance arrived.

Lawyer Mario Scerri said he had been on his way home on the night of the crime and had passed Spiteri. He had overtaken another car and crossed the double white lines and had seen Spiteri walk to the middle of the road but she did not call out to him or stop him.

He later learnt that he had been the last person she had booked.

Dr Patrick Sciberras said he had been on duty at the Gozo General Hospital and had certified Spiteri dead.

Meanwhile, Inspector Anglu Caruana told how police had picked up John Attard soon after Spiteri's murder after her husband had indicated that Attard, a bus driver, was one of the people she had frequent arguments with.

Attard had told police at the time that he had gone down to Malta to pay for some animal fodder at about 5.30 p.m. and did not leave his house once he returned home. His wife confirmed that her husband had not left the house again, the inspector said.

At the end of yesterday's sitting, Police Superintendent Pierre Calleja exhibited the tapes of the second statement released by Attard days before he was arraigned in court.

The case continues.

Police Superintendent Pierre Calleja and Inspectors Antonello Grech and Anglu Caruana are prosecuting.

Dr Carmelo Galea, Dr Emmanuel Mallia and Dr Giannella Caruana Curran are appearing for Attard, Dr Chris Said for Farrugia while Dr Anton Refalo is representing the Spiteri family.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.