A police inspector yesterday gave a step-by-step account of a lengthy operation that ended with tear gas being fired into a house and the arrest of its occupants during last month's Qormi stand-off.
Police Inspector Jeffrey Azzopardi was testifying before Magistrate Miriam Hayman in the compilation of evidence against Marco Pace, known as Il-Pinzell.
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.
Inspector Cilia explained how after being informed about a shooting in Qormi, Pace's mother told the police she believed her son had fired a shot at her front door and gave them his mobile number.
The police called Pace who was in his home nearby and asked him to go outside but he refused to.
Inspector Cilia said Pace denied firing the shot and told him he was not getting out of his house and the police would not be getting in.
During several phone calls made, Pace threatened the inspector that he would kill him if he tried to get into his house.
At times, the inspector added, Pace's mobile phone was answered by Janika Abdilla and Marco Abdilla who were inside the house. They showed the same hostile attitude towards the police.
After hearing shots from inside Pace's house the police tried to evacuate neighbouring houses and soon after they fired tear gas into Pace's house. But instead of getting out, Pace moved into the backyard.
Several more shots were heard being fired inside, some directed at officers stationed on the back side of the house. Then, at about 1 a.m. it was decided that members of the special assignment group (SAG) would storm the house. So more tear gas was fired into the house from the front and back and SAG officers went in and arrested the people inside.
The case continues.