Tarxien man charged with garage explosion

An explosion in a Fgura garage last June left the overlying maisonette with little or no support and the place had to be evacuated, a court heard yesterday.

"The most alarming thing was the way the walls of the garage opened outwards... As a result a lot of cracks appeared in the overlying building and most of it ended up with little or no support," Architect Richard Aquilina said.

He explained that he was appointed to examine the damage caused by an explosion in a garage in San Xmun Street in Fgura.

"The Bucklands, who were the residents of the overlying building, were not at home at the time of the explosion and were not allowed into the building because it was not safe," he said.

The architect testified in the compilation of evidence against Edgar Grima, 44, of Tarxien who is pleading not guilty to involuntarily causing more than Lm1,000 damage to the detriment of several people.

Grima is also charged with two counts of manufacturing fireworks in a residential area, storing explosives without a licence and keeping explosives based on potassium chloride in Fgura on June 7 last year.

He is also pleading not guilty to perjury when he testified before court experts at St Luke's Hospital on June 20.

Colonel Albert Camilleri and Professor Alfred Vella also took the witness stand yesterday and explained they had compiled a report after examining the site of the explosion.

Colonel Camilleri said he found 800 petards, among other materials related to fireworks, and there was a smell of thinner on the site.

Paul Zahra said he owned garage number 94, next door to Grima's. The explosion damaged the garage and a car and a van that were parked inside it. He also explained that Grima rented the garage from his (Zahra's) relatives but did not know what he used it for.

The case continues.

Police Inspector Jesmond Borg is prosecuting.

Dr Edward Gatt is appearing for Grima.