Police inspector describes aftermath of Qormi murder

A police inspector told a court this morning how he was approached by a man who admitted shooting a business partner in Qormi last month.

Police Inspector Chris Pullicino, was testifying in the case against Spiridione Mercieca, who is accused of the murder of Martin Scicluna.

He said that while he was on the second floor of the law courts building he received a phone call telling him that there had been a murder in Qormi.

As he was leaving the building, near the main door, he was approached by Mr Mercieca who asked to speak to him.

He told him he could not speak to him because he had to investigate something in Qormi.

Mr Mercieca insisted, and then told him that he had been the one who shot Mr Scicluna in Qormi.

He said: "I know what I did was very wrong, but I just could not keep up with it any more, I came here to the courts because I did not find you at the depot and I wanted to cooperate."

The inspector said he asked Mr Mercieca to calm down and they both walked to Palace Square where Mr Mercieca had parked his car. The police removed a shotgun and other items from the car.

In a police statement, Mr Mercieca said he had had an argument with Mr Scicluna, during which Mr Scicluna threw desk trays at him.

As this point Mr Mercieca said he rushed downstairs, got his gun from the car and shot Mr Scicluna twice.

Testifying, ballistics experts Brig. Maurice Calleja said the gun in question had been fired twice. One shot hit Mr Scicluna on the right hand side of his chest and the second in the head just above his eye. The second shot was the fatal one.

The case continues.