Brothers 'exchanged fire' in feud over rubble wall

A quarrel over a rubble wall led to a shootout between two brothers, police inspector Joseph Agius told a court yesterday.

Inspector Agius was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Anthony Cachia, 52, of Safi who stands charged with trying to kill his 45-year-old brother Joseph.

The two brothers were charged separately over the same incident which took place on April 15.

Inspector Agius said Anthony Cachia went to the police station to report that a quarrel had taken place and that he had been hit by shotgun pellets. Asked if he had fired at his brother, he replied in the affirmative but said he was not sure if he had hit him. Some time later, the police were informed that Joseph Cachia had been admitted to hospital suffering from gunshot wounds to his head, neck and chest.

Insp. Agius said the police went to the residences of the two brothers and seized all the shotguns they found. They also went to the area where the incident took place and lifted several spent cartridges.

Both accused denied being the first to shoot, the inspector said. He explained that the brothers had fields next to each other separated by a narrow lane and that the argument was about a rubble wall.

Inspector Agius prosecuted.

Lawyers Patrick Valentino, Anglu Farrugia and Edward Gatt appeared for Anthony Cachia while lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran represented Joseph Cachia.