Two burglary victims died of asphyxia, court hears

Jurors in a double-murder trial yesterday heard how an elderly couple, who were tied up and gagged during a burglary at their Sta Lucija apartment four years ago, died of asphyxia due to gagging.

Pathologists Bridget Ellul and Ali Salfraz were the first to testify in the trial by jury of Brian Vella, 34, of Hamrun who is pleading not guilty to the murder of 79-year-old Gerald Grima and his 63-year-old wife Josephine on February 10, 2000.

Vella is also pleading not guilty to stealing over Lm1,000 worth of valuables from the Grimas' apartment.

The pathologists gave a detailed report of the result of the autopsies carried out on the bodies of Gerald and Josephine Grima on February 18, 2000.

They explained that both had brown plastic tape, four centimetres wide, wrapped over their month and round their head. Their nose was not covered with tape. They were also bound at the wrists and legs.

Gerald Grima had several abrasions on his head and although his skull was not fractured he had haemorrhaged internally and also had several fractured ribs. He also had a defence wound on his left little finger.

Josephine Grima also had a wound on her head. The head wounds on both were in keeping with a blunt, force trauma, that is, being hit or hitting against a blunt object.

Both had died as a result of asphyxia but Gerald Grima's death could have also been due to internal haemorrhage. The pathologists explained that although their nose was not covered by the tape, asphyxia could occur within minutes if the mouth was covered.

Earlier, the bill of indictment was read out to the nine jurors and the four supplementary jurors. The bill claims that on February 10, 2000, Vella met up with Dominic Bonnici and Robert Borg at the Nationalist Party Club in Sta Lucija. As they were drinking, Vella suggested that they burgle the house of the Grimas, an elderly couple who lived alone.

Bonnici and Borg eventually accepted and that evening, some time after 8.30, the three men headed towards the Grimas' house in a black Volkswagen equipped with tape, stockings and a hood among other objects.

Vella knew the couple's habits so the three men waited for Gerald Grima to walk the dog and return home. That was when they surprised Josephine Grima who was waiting for her husband by the door.

Once inside, Vella tied up Josephine Grima with tape and gagged her while Bonnici and Borg tied and gagged her husband. Vella then tied the couple together with a leather belt.

They then searched the house for valuables and took over Lm1,000 worth of cash and jewellery.

They spent about half an hour in the apartment and before they left they noticed that the couple could no longer breathe. But none of the three men did anything to help them

They even drank some milk and smoked while in the Grimas' home. Eventually, during investigations, police carried out DNA tests on cigarette stubs found on the scene. When compared with Vella's DNA the two were "perfectly compatible".

The trial, presided by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, continues this morning.

Senior counsel to the republic Dr Mark Said is prosecuting.

Dr Anglu Farrugia and Dr Kris Busietta are appearing for Vella.