Evidence in Qormi stand-off case

Magistrate Miriam Hayman yesterday started hearing evidence in the case against Marco Pace, known as Il-Pinzell, who is charged with the attempted murder of a police sergeant during last week's Qormi stand-off.

Pace, 35, of Qormi, is pleading not guilty to firing a gun at PS George Farrugia, threatening and assaulting police officers and holding several people against their will on the night of February 15.

He is also pleading not guilty to using a firearm to damage Emanuel Gatt's car and the front door of the house of Anthony and Giovanna Pace, his parents, earlier that day.

Gatt yesterday took the witness stand and explained how last week he left his Qormi garage at about 2 p.m. to help a friend transport his boat to a garage.

When he went back to his garage he saw that one of the cars had a broken window and later realised that the car also had a hole in it. Gatt explained how after realising that the car was damaged he informed his friend about what had happened and then phoned Pace's father, Anthony.

He explain that he wanted to speak to Anthony Pace because he owned a neighbouring garage and thought he might know something about the incident.

Police Inspector Jeffrey Cilia, prosecuting, explained that during a statement to the police Gatt said he contacted Pace's father to asked him if Pace could have been responsible for the damage.

In court Gatt said he did not remember saying anything to the police other than what he said in court. Asked if he said the truth in the statement to the police he said that, as far as he was concerned, he had.

The case continues.