Jurors view videos of fight

Jurors in the trial of a teenager charged with the murder of a 23-year-old man yesterday heard several police officers and court experts testify in a court sitting characterised by video footage showing scenes of the fight that ended in the man's death.

Glen Pullicino, 17, of Zebbug, is pleading not guilty to the murder of Brian Tabone outside Bamboo Bar, in Paceville on March 17, 2002, at about 5.45 p.m.

The prosecution is claiming that on the day of the incident Pullicino, together with some friends, went outside Bamboo Bar and stood near a parked Peugeot in which there were children.

When the parents of the children noticed this, they got worried and went outside where a fight broke out between a certain Francis Farrugia and Tabone.

During the fight Pullicino, who was in possession of a penknife, stabbed Tabone with the intent to kill him.

During yesterday's sitting jurors viewed a video recording taken through the CCTV system of the Vivaldi Hotel (situated across the road from Bamboo Bar) as well as another two recordings of the event shot by English and German tourists from their separate hotel room balconies.

Medical doctor Jonathan Joslin took the witness stand and explained that on March 17, 2002, he was working at St Luke's Hospital's casualty department when he was informed that his assistance was needed in Paceville where a man had been injured in a fight.

"When I arrived on the scene the man was lying on the ground in the middle of the road. He was still alive, his skin was pale, he was gasping for air, had a weak pulse and an incised stab wound," the witness explained.

He added that the man, Tabone, was in a state of pre-cardiac arrest. He was lifted into the ambulance where he was given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation but he never came back to life and was certified dead soon after.

Under cross-examination the doctor said that Farrugia had climbed into the ambulance with the hospital staff and Tabone but since he smelt of alcohol the doctor felt it was useless arguing and wasting precious time, so he allowed Farrugia to stay.

The witness said that when they arrived in hospital Farrugia grabbed him by the neck and punched him.

Police Sergeant Emanuel Aquilina said that as he was rushing towards the scene of the fight he noticed a group of young men run away from the scene.

When he arrived near the Bamboo Bar, Farrugia ran up to him and told him to chase the man in the blue top. The sergeant gave chase but there was no one in sight.

Forensic expert Christopher Farrugia explained that he was appointed to assist scene-of-crime officers examine the scene as well as conduct tests on blood samples and a pen knife lifted from the scene, amongst other things.

Results showed that Tabone's blood was of type A and blood samples found on the road and the blood found on the pen knife were also of type A. Blood tests conducted on Farrugia's clothes yielded a blood type O.

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

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara is prosecuting.

Dr Giannella Caruana Curran, Dr Emanuel Mallia, Dr Michael Sciriha and Dr John Attard Montalto are appearing for Pullicino.