Accused opened door to police 'half naked and holding cannabis'

Drug trafficking investigations led the police to the apartment of a man who opened the door wearing nothing but a T-shirt and holding a bar of cannabis resin in one hand, jurors heard yesterday.

Police Inspector Norbert Ciappara explained that the police were to raid Godfrey Ellul's apartment after Ian Ciantar informed the police that Mr Ellul was a cannabis supplier.

Mr Ciantar had phoned Mr Ellul, under the supervision of the police, and agreed to go to his (Mr Ellul's) Paceville apartment to pick up the cannabis.

When the police arrived at the apartment, Mr Ellul opened the door wearing only a T-shirt and holding the cannabis.

The inspector was testifying before Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono in the trial by jury that started yesterday of Mr Ellul, 59.

Mr Ellul is pleading not guilty to trafficking in cocaine and cannabis resin and the possession of both drugs with the intent to sell them between December 2001 and July 2002.

Inspector Ciappara said that on July 15, 2002, he was investigating Mr Ciantar for drug trafficking.

As evidence was gathered against Mr Ciantar, he was informed that the law stated he could benefit from a reduction in punishment if he assisted the police with their investigations.

Mr Ciantar agreed to help the police and told them he had bought cannabis bars from Mr Ellul and obtained ecstasy from a man by the name of Johann whom he met through Mr Ellul.

Mr Ciantar told the inspector that, if the police wanted to find more drugs, they had to go to Mr Ellul's apartment that same night. He also offered to phone Mr Ellul and to meet him using the ruse that he wanted to buy more cannabis.

Inspector Ciappara said he instructed Mr Ciantar to call Mr Ellul but told him not to use the words "drugs" or "cannabis" during the phone call. He wanted to make sure Mr Ciantar was telling the truth.

Mr Ciantar called Mr Ellul and agreed to pick up the drugs from his apartment. Some time later, the police went to Mr Ellul's apartment and he opened the door thinking it was Mr Ciantar.

The police searched the apartment and in a bedroom found a Ukrainian woman and a Maltese man naked in bed, where there was a small plate containing white powder suspected to be cocaine. The couple were arrested and taken to the police headquarters.

During a thorough search, scene of crime officers seized items connected with drug taking.

Four bars of cannabis resin were found in a child's bedroom (there were no children in the apartment).

Other items included weighing scales, inhalation pipes and Mr Ellul's identity card that had white powder on it.

Meanwhile, a young Libyan man and another Ukrainian woman turned up at the apartment and were arrested.

In his statement to the police, Mr Ellul said that he took cocaine but never sold it. He said he never used cannabis. When asked about the five cannabis bars found in his apartment, he said a Libyan man had given them to him as a promise of payment for a wristwatch he bought through him.

Pensioner Frances Chapelle testified that Mr Ellul was the son of a friend of his.

He said he bought cocaine from the accused from 1996 until about 2001 when he underwent a hip operation and had to stop taking "coke".

He said he had seen Mr Ellul buy drugs from a blond man at a cheap price.

He bought the cocaine from Mr Ellul at a higher price so that Mr Ellul made a profit. He had also seen Mr Ellul give drugs to others but people did not always pay him there and then.

Taking the stand, Mr Ciantar explained how he bought cocaine from Mr Ellul about four times a week.

The trial continues this morning.

Lawyers Anthony Barbara, the head of the Attorney General's prosecution unit, is prosecuting. Lawyer Joseph Brincat is defence counsel.