Safi woman on trial for arson

A woman yesterday told jurors how she recognised the voices of a man and a woman outside her door and soon after heard the crackling sound of a fire.

Frances Grixti said she was trapped inside her flat but managed to get out with the help of a neighbour.

She testified in the trial by jury of Emily Muscat, 44, of Safi, who is pleading not guilty to two counts of arson in Gzira on October 30, 1994.

Muscat was charged with John Vella, 50, of Tarxien and Anthony Felice, 36, of San Gwann. The men yesterday filed guilty pleas and the case against them has been put off for submissions on punishment.

Meanwhile, Grixti yesterday explained how she had been asleep inside her flat in Gzira in 1994 when she heard voices and knocking. She recognised Muscat and Vella and heard Muscat shouting for her to open.

"Emily knew I was inside and I heard her say that she knew how to get me out," Grixti said.

She explained that she and Muscat had been friends and had taken drugs together in her flat. Muscat knew that the door could be kicked open unless it was locked on the inside and, as such, could suspect that she was inside since she did not manage to kick the door open.

"After some time I heard a crackling sound and went to see what it was and saw flames behind the door," Grixti said.

Grixti said she realised she was trapped in her flat and called out for help from the balcony, where she saw Muscat and Vella get into a car.

After some time, a certain Lalu helped her out of the building. Outside, she saw Muscat and Vella standing next to each other and she accused them of trying to set her place on fire. Muscat slapped her and Vella hit her on the head.

Earlier, Superintendent (then Inspector) Martin Bayliss explained that the police could not inspect the building after they were called to the scene on October 30, 1994, because it was too dark and the smoke was too thick.

He also told how he questioned Muscat on November 3, 1994. She explained that Vella, also known as is-Sur Ang, had gone looking for a certain Carmen at her house and had got upset because she was not there.

She tried to calm him down and offered to go with him to his father's house but he stopped outside Ta' Xbiex Palace on the way and told Muscat to wait for him while he taught Sandro Mifsud's wife a lesson.

Muscat explained that Mifsud's wife had said she would leave her husband for Vella but had not. Vella had told her he had once shot at Mifsud's wife but she did not report him to police because she was scared and he planned to set her on fire.

Muscat said she saw Vella set fire to some garbage bags and throw them near Grixti's door and he threatened her with a penknife and warned her not to say anything about the fire.

Vella then drove Muscat to her house and said he wanted to sleep there so she waited till he fell asleep and then went to sleep at a neighbour's.

The next morning Muscat found her television decoder and other items missing and a friend told her that Vella had taken them.

The trial continues.

Senior counsel to the republic Mark Said is prosecuting.

Dr Joseph Giglio is appearing for Muscat, while Dr Joseph Mifsud is appearing for Vella and José Herrera is appearing for Felice.