Investigating officer recounts how accused turned himself in

Spiridione Mercieca, the man charged with the murder of his business partner, walked into the court building to give himself up right after the shooting, a police inspector testified yesterday.

Police Inspector Chris Pullicino said he was on his way out of court to investigate the very same murder in Qormi on September 16 when he was approached by Mr Mercieca.

Mr Mercieca told him he wanted to speak to him, at which point, the officer said he had no time to speak to him as he was on his way to Qormi.

At that point, the officer recounted, Mr Mercieca told him: "(It's) about that... It's me... I know what I have done is wrong but I just could not put up with it anymore. I first tried to find you at the HQ and they sent me here. I want to cooperate," Inspector Pullicino testified.

He was testifying before Magistrate Miriam Hayman in the compilation of evidence against Mr Mercieca, who is accused of shooting Martin Scicluna dead at their office.

Mr Pullicino told the court that after his encounter with Mr Mercieca he walked the accused to his car, parked at the St George's Square, in Valletta, where the police elevated a shotgun and other items related to the case. At the police headquarters, during questioning Mr Mercieca told Inspector Pullicino that he had had an argument with Mr Scicluna and at one point the victim threw some paper trays at him.

The accused then rushed down stairs to get his gun, loaded it, ran back upstairs and fired two shots at Mr Scicluna.

Ballistics expert Brigadier Maurice Calleja said the gun had been fired from a distance of about two metres from Mr Scicluna and that the first shot hit the victim on the right shoulder and, as he was falling, the second shot hit him just above the eye.

Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino, Daniel Zammit and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Beppe Fenech Adami are defence counsel.

Lawyers Gavin Gulia and Tonio Azzopardi appeared in parte civile.