Defendant claims he was wrongly accused

A Cospicua man standing trial for attempted murder yesterday took the witness stand for the second consecutive day to insist that evidence pointed towards his innocence.

Emanuel Zammit explained that he thought Michael Angelo Fenech had wrongly accused him of trying to kill him because Fenech had to pay him for a gun silencer he made for him.

"All the evidence is in my favour... I insist on telling you I did not shoot him," he said.

Zammit, 65, was testifying before Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia in his trial by jury. He is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of Fenech, also known as Il-Kelly, in Madliena on February 23, 1998.

Zammit is also pleading not guilty to stealing court exhibits, including a sub-machine gun, from the strong room at the law courts on the night between September 18 and 19, 1993.

Zammit took the witness stand on Wednesday after the prosecution declared it had no more evidence. He yesterday testified at length under cross-examination and insisted that he had not told the police the true version of the events because he wanted to cover up for Fenech.

"Once Kelly told me that if we ever fought I was not to mention his firearms to anyone and that if I did his friends would come after me.

"I gave him my word and since I believe in being a gentleman I had to keep it. This is why I wanted to cover up for him."

Zammit denied knowing Fenech's brother, known as Barbarossa.

Zammit said Fenech had often mentioned having enemies. He added that Fenech still owed him about Lm600 and defined him as "a master of deceit".

The trial continues this morning.