Remanded in custody after murder charge

A man was yesterday remanded in custody after being charged with attempted murder.

Noel Farrugia, 28 of Msida, was accused of trying to kill Kevin Drew by firing a gun in his direction on Friday at about 4.45 p.m.

He was further accused of causing grievous bodily harm, being in possession of an unlicensed weapon, threatening Mr Drew and relapsing. He pleaded not guilty.

Taking the witness stand, Mr Drew said he had been chatting with Gino Tabone, an electrician in Birkirkara, on Friday afternoon when he suddenly saw the accused coming out of a blue Mitsubishi Lancer.

The accused had started to threaten him, claiming he was a thief who had stolen thousands of liri from him. Then he pulled out a gun from his pocket and fired a shot near his feet at point blank range.

Mr Drew said the shot was so close he could feel the heat of the bullet. He said he then tried to run away, but the accused hit him and he suffered a cut above his left eye.

Mr Drew said the argument escalated very quickly and he could not understand why the accused had called him a thief.

He said he knew the accused through Clifford Bonnici, with whom he used to share a flat. Bonnici, who was also on the scene, started revving up the engine of the car after the accused left. Mr Drew said he then went to file a report at the Birkirkara police station.

Inspector Ramon Mercieca, who prosecuted, said the police had found a spent bullet shell but failed to find the pistol. Inspector Mercieca said Mr Drew had filed a report with the police on June 28 and alleged that Mr Farrugia was sending him threatening messages via SMS.

The prosecution opposed a request for the accused to be granted bail, as there were two witnesses who could be influenced by the accused if this happened.

The court, presided by Magistrate Miriam Hayman, said it would consider a request for bail when these witnesses had testified and the police were asked to summon them for the next hearing of the case.

Defence counsel Giannella Caruana Curran told the court she could not help remarking that while the prosecution accused her client with attempted murder and grievous bodily harm, the victim himself said the accused had shot at the ground by his feet and the medical certificate spoke of slight injuries.