On-site inquiries held in three localities

Richard Cachia Caruana yesterday indicated to jurors where he was when he was stabbed close to his home in Mdina in 1994.

Court officials and jurors went to Bidnija in the morning to view the residences of Maurice Mizzi and Daphne Caruana Galizia. In the afternoon they went to Adrian Strickland's house in Zejun and later to Mdina.

The on-site inquiries were held on the 12th day of the trial by jury of Meinrad Calleja who is accused of complicity in the attempted murder of the prime minister's personal assistant in Mdina on December 18, 1994.

The doors of the houses in Zejtun and Bidnija had been set alight a year after Maurice Calleja resigned as commander of the armed forces after his daughter had been caught with a kilo of cocaine. She was with Joseph Fenech, Zeppi l-Hafi, at the time.

The prosecution said in court the arson attempts were part of a string of events that had included the stabbing and that these crimes took place against people who were perceived to have been involved in Maurice Calleja's resignation. The prosecution said the events had taken place in the anniversary of the events that led to the commander's resignation and its aftermath.

The victim yesterday indicated to jurors the place where he had seen two unhooded men whom he had never seen before and who eventually attacked and stabbed him as he was placing laundry on the back seat of his car.

Nicholas Jensen, who had arrived on the scene as the victim was being assaulted, yesterday told jurors he had the impression he might have seen the actual stabbing taking place but was not sure about it.

The trial continues this morning.