Families on trial for murder

¤ In the past two centuries there have been eight other trials where family members sat side by side in the dock, according to police and crime historian Eddie Attard. But the last trial of this nature took place more than 40 years ago.

¤ Father, mother and son were tried for the murder of Francesca Bellia, 60, in 1827. Wenzu Bonanno was given the death sentence, his wife Maddalena was jailed for 20 years and their son Manwel was acquitted.

¤ Husband and wife were tried for the murder of 77-year-old Angela Mamo in 1899. The victim's stepson Paul Mamo was condemned to life imprisonment and his wife Maryanna was acquitted.

¤ Father and son for the murder of Frangisk Galea, 70, in 1922. Antonio Tabone was acquitted while his son Guzeppi, who was married to the victim's niece, was given the death sentence.

¤ Mother and son for the murder of Joseph Debattista, 54, in 1937. Karmena Abdilla - who had a relationship with the victim when her husband left her - was jailed for life while her teenage son Victor was jailed for 12 years.

¤ Two brothers for the murder of Spiru Grech in 1942. Karmnu and Giuzeppi Zammit were executed in 1943 in the last hangings on the island.

¤ Three brothers for the murder of Guzeppi Bezzina, 43, in 1946. Guzeppi Darmanin, known as Iz-Zuz, was jailed for three years while his brothers Manwel and Pawlu were jailed for two.

¤ Husband and wife for the murder of the woman's eight-year-old son Twanny Aquilina in 1960. Giga Camilleri had been given the death sentence which was then converted to life imprisonment. Her husband Leli (not the boy's father) was jailed for 20 years.

¤ Father and son for the murder of Carmel James, a 29-year-old sailor, during a fight in a bar in 1965. Tony Scicluna was acquitted while his son John was jailed for 12 years.