Suspect tells police he shot man who flirted with his girlfriend

An 18-year-old boy told the police he had shot a man because he felt his honour had been insulted because the victim had flirted with his girlfriend and so he wanted to "eliminate him", a court heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Raymond Cassar testified that after David Spiteri turned himself in to the police he confessed that he had shot Mark Debono because he saw him "fool around" with his girlfriend by putting his arm on her shoulder at Footloose Bar, in Paceville.

"He said he got angry at him (Mr Debono) and felt he had insulted his honour...He said he wanted to eliminate him," Inspector Cassar said.

Mr Spiteri also told the officer he had fetched a pistol from his car, went back to the bar and shot Mr Debono, whom he did not know.

The officer was testifying before Magistrate Edwina Grima in the compilation of evidence against Mr Spiteri who is pleading not guilty to attempted murder.

Police Inspector Martin Sammut said that on August 24 at about 6 a.m. a sergeant informed him that a man had been shot inside Footloose Bar. The victim had been found lying unconscious and bleeding in the bar. He was rushed to hospital where, the inspector learnt later, he had to be operated upon because a bullet was still inside his stomach.

At about 7.15 a.m. the inspector was informed that Mr Spiteri had turned himself in at the Luqa police station and was taken to the police headquarters for questioning.

Inspector Sammut added that a magisterial onsite inquiry was carried out at the bar and court experts were appointed. A spent cartridge was found behind the central bar of the non-smoking section.

The officer spoke to the bar's duty manager, Conrad Bonnici, and security guard Pierre Buttigieg. Both said they had noticed an angry-looking man inside the bar. They watched the man have a drink and, some time later, they heard a loud noise and saw a customer fall to the ground.

At 4 p.m., the inspector went to speak to the victim following his operation.

Mr Debono told the police all he remembered was that on the evening of the shooting he had met several people. He was standing by the bar, talking to an Irish couple, when he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his back and legs and felt himself lose consciousness. He did not realise he had been shot.

He did not know Mr Spiteri.

Inspector Cassar explained that after Mr Spiteri turned himself in he was taken to his office at the headquarters for questioning.

There, Mr Spiteri told him that he had gone to help his cousin at a Gharghur bar. When they closed the bar, Mr Spiteri and his girlfriend, Frances Agius, headed to Paceville and ended up at Footloose.

He noticed Mr Debono "fool around" with his girlfriend and put his arm over her shoulder and he became very angry. His girlfriend's brother, Marvin Mallia, introduced Mr Debono to him as their cousin but he did not believe this.

Mr Spiteri went to his car, got a pistol from a bag under the front passengers' seat, loaded it and headed back to the bar. The accused pushed Mr Debono by the shoulder, aimed the pistol at his stomach and fired one shot. He then saw the victim look at him blankly and left the bar with his girlfriend. He later went to the Luqa police station to turn himself in.

Inspector Cassar added that Mr Spiteri did not tell him from where he got the gun but said he bought it a year before for about Lm120.

The officer said Mr Spiteri's relatives did not know he owned a pistol. However, they said he had been threatened by the parents of a former girlfriend and may have bought the gun then.

Police searched Mr Spiteri's car from where they seized the pistol.

Mr Mallia said he had gone to the bar and met Mr Debono, whom he knew through a friend. He introduced Mr Debono to his sister (Frances Agius). Some time later his sister went to sit down on a box and Mr Debono sat next to her and put his arm on her shoulder.

Mr Mallia noticed Mr Spiteri leaving the premises. Then, as Mr Debono went towards the bar area, he spotted Mr Spiteri returning to the premises and head towards Mr Debono.

Mr Mallia went near them as he sensed there might be a fight and, for the sake of peace, he winked at Mr Debono and introduced him to the accused as his cousin even though he was not.

However, Mr Spiteri did not buy the story. That was when Mr Mallia heard a loud bang and saw Mr Debono fall to the ground.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Cassar and Sammut are prosecuting.

Lawyers Henry Antoncich and Michael Sciriha are defence counsel.

Lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran is representing the victim.