Man pleads guilty in double murder case

A 44-year-old man who was yesterday due to stand trial by jury for a double murder committed on February 10, 2000, yesterday pleaded guilty in a bid to avoid life imprisonment.

Dominic Bonnici chose to plead guilty to the murder of Gerald and Josephine Grima, of Sta Lucija, and to aggravated theft from the elderly couple at what was meant to be the start of his trial by jury.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono heard the prosecution and defence make their case about what kind of sentence they expected.

Dr Anthony Barbara, for the prosecution, argued that the court had the discretion on whether or not to hand down a life sentence in this case as the accused had pleaded guilty at the start of his trial. He had cooperated with the police and his information led to revealing who the accomplice was, and to solving the case.

Legal circles pointed out yesterday that contrary to the widespread notion that a life sentence in Malta meant 25 years, a life sentence meant exactly that, and there have been four cases in the recent past when people were handed a life sentence.

Dr Barbara argued the prosecution felt that if the court opted for a fixed term of imprisonment other than life, the law was clear that the accused in this case could be imprisoned for from 18 to 30 years and the prosecution preferred the maximum possible.

Superintendent Pierre Calleja testified that after his arrest, Bonnici had admitted guilt, started crying and appeared to be genuinely sorry. He had also wanted to confess and had later sent him a letter saying he was willing to testify in court. He had in fact testified in the compilation stage against Brian Vella, who is due to stand trial by jury.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo said that as head of the CID police, he had spoken to Bonnici on February 17, 2000 when Bonnici had initially denied involvement, but on the following day he had spilled the beans and gave details of how the case had been planned and executed.

"He cooperated fully, showed remorse and tried to convince Brian Vella to tell the truth. It was very moving when he requested to speak to his relatives after admitting and his feelings appeared genuine," Rizzo said.

Fr Raniero Zammit, the police chaplain, testified that he was told by the police commissioner that someone needed to make a confession. Fr Zammit said Bonnici had asked him to console his family.

Defence lawyer Joe Giglio said his client had said that the case was "a fatal tragedy" and he felt very bad after the murder. He had asked for forgiveness and was now waiting for his punishment.

He underlined the fact that his client had testified and was willing to testify against Vella and that his evidence had been crucial to the police to solve the case.

The defence said that apart from this case, which he admitted was a grave error, Bonnici was not a danger to society.

He argued that Bonnici "could not sleep for a week" after the case was committed, prompting the judge to remark that had he spoken during that week, there was a possibility that the life of one of the victims, who had been gagged with strong tape, would have been saved.

Mr Justice Galea Debono postponed the case to tomorrow, when sentence is to be handed down.