Accused in Mqabba shooting wanted "to get his own back" - club president
The man charged with the attempted murder of 20 people at the Mqabba PN club on December 20 had allegedly told the president of the club that he had been punched by a patron after the election and he wanted to get his own back.
Testifying in the first day of the compilation of evidence against Carmel Saliba, 31, of Kirkop, president Michel Farrugia said he had told the accused that nobody from the club had punched him and that he should not make such accusations.
Mr Farrugia told the court that on the day of the incident he had organised a meal at the club. He went to his car to get his mobile phone and as he returned to bar, the accused walked past him into the bar looking very angry.
Mr Farrugia said Mr Saliba accused him of having punched him and an argument broke out between them. They came to blows and had to be separated by friends.
Before leaving the club, Mr Saliba promised that he would get his own back that night, Mr Farrugia claimed.
He said that shortly afterwards, somebody he was told that Mr Saliba had reversed his car into his. The police were called and as they were being told what happened Mr Saliba drove his van into the middle of the square.
Mr Farrugia said that as soon as he saw Mr Saliba get a shotgun out from the back of the van, he started to run inside the club and felt lead across his back.
His sister Silvana helped another man close the door.
Crying on the witness stand, Mr Farrugia said he saw his sister lying on the floor and thought she was dead.
He said that with the shotgun’s barrel, Mr Saliba broke a side window and tried to shoot again through it.
Club secretary Paul Spiteri confirmed the Mr Farrugia’s testimony and said he remembered that on the day after the election, while waiting for the results, Labour Party supporters were celebrating outside the PN club and Mr Saliba was conspicuous because he was on a wall wearing a t-shirt promoting hunting.
Mr Saliba is pleading not guilty.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
25 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Denis Catania
Dec 31st 2008, 01:23
Close down ALL political social clubs. As they brew nothing but trouble. Malta doesn't need the segregation that political clubs bring.
George S Darmanin
Dec 30th 2008, 10:10
Some people need to do their maths...even if what they write is in good faith.
Edward Zammit
Dec 30th 2008, 08:43
@Ronnie Gauci
Well said Ronnie...no need to add more to your comments.
Duncan Bartolo
Dec 30th 2008, 00:12
Most of the laborites were celebrating on the day of the result of the election. Now for those of you that have no idea the PL and PN clubs at Mqabba are in front of each other. Is it possible that this shooting guy is a labourite hunter that is utterly angry at the fact that he cannot go hunting as much as he used to. Most of you are saying that this is a politically driven shooting, i tend to disagree, i think that its more about unkept promises by the party. Hunting was never mentioned in any of the plans prior to the election.
In villages such as Mqabba, Qrendi, and other traditional villages the tension between band culbs is larger than the political tension. This is deemed as obvious during festas in this villages due to the amount of police in front of the band clubs
Saying that this is a political shooting is not being utterly correct
Ronnie Gauci
Dec 29th 2008, 23:53
There is no such thing as a violent Labourite or a pacifist Nationalist and vice versa. There are some violent Maltese though and these can either be a Nationalist or a Labour supporter. We ain't two tribes here or two races. You all know this but its always convenient for you to start pointing fingers all over again.
This accident happened and the victims in it where Nationalistsan no one is denying it but along the years we had accidents caused by Nationalists on Labourites but nobody commented. We all know that when the victim of some political quarrel is a PN supporter the impact on the media is much larger. It was always this way and this way will remain.
K.Abela
Dec 29th 2008, 21:12
@ Chris Attard
Have you asked yourself the same question about he 96 election when the then prime minister went to ta`qali and said it is going to be a photo finish.. You cannot use two weight `s and two measures..... Anyway it seems that we are going to categories crimes by either being labourites or nationalists... This is simply stupid..
Joe Vella
Dec 29th 2008, 20:57
@ D Ellul @ l. Galea
With all fairness to Victor Vella, I think he is making reference to a certain General Secretary of a Political party making certain remarks on One TV prematurely. DR. Farrugia and Joe Saliba were more sensible and choose to wait till much later to make any announcement till later then being over zealous. Which only shows that they were more prudent.
Joe Vella
Dec 29th 2008, 20:50
@ micheal fenech
I wanted to make this comment separate then my last one.
If it is true that Mr. Saliba was drinking at the PL club earlier, as it has been reported, and that true evidence in court shows that he was instigated by any individual to the state of mind that bought about his actions, I certainly hope, in all honesty, that Mr Saliba is found not guilty and those who drove him to the point be charged and convicted.
I am sure you will concur with me on this point.
Jason Borg
Dec 29th 2008, 20:44
@ Edward Zammit...
let's imagine another scenario...a man , known for his PN beliefs shot to Mqabba MLP Clup , 11 people injured...
I am already imagining ONE news still doing follow ups of the incident two months later ignoring all the Xmas festivities, with Muscat making a Mass Meeting there, and all the elves on shift basis writing comments here.
U ejja Edward, these people never change, they were waiting to feel part of labour again. And Muscat just got them back..
Joe Vella
Dec 29th 2008, 20:43
@ micheal fenech
Just to confirm that I am well and fine. It is obvious that there is more then one Joe Vella. I am saying this to give credit to the joe vella that posted the comment in question.
I might also add, that my hat is off to you for your comment.
Enjoy, have fun, and the best in 2009 for you and your loved ones.
Edward Zammit
Dec 29th 2008, 20:29
@victor vella
It is about time we start leaving out partisan comments...you're trying to make us think that the Correctional facilities in Corradino are full of Labour supporters... Believe me my friend, that's not the case...You do not have to be a Judge or a Lawyer to know that. Whatever happened at Mqabba is out of real political context (even if the accused says he's "Laburist aktar min Dr. Muscat")...Saliba's alleged acts that night were utterly disgusting and insane...no matter what are his beliefs...sure every organization being political or not, will disassociate from such mentality. There is only one place for such cowboys.
I think everyone should STOP trying to politicize this case...This is nothing more than a criminal case and it should be left that way...regardless what are the political beliefs
John Bonello
Dec 29th 2008, 20:19
Back to the 80's...............
farrugia mario
Dec 29th 2008, 20:11
you have to be a 'mohh ta' mhara' if you assosiate the incident with the Labour Party, or, wishfull thinking ..... happy new year
l borg
Dec 29th 2008, 19:57
what ever the reason it will not do the defendent any good
also i think no one should take political advantage
people have control on themseves and only responsible for what they do not what others do
Chris Attard
Dec 29th 2008, 19:52
Who knows whether all this would have happened had an official spokesman from the MLP not indicated publicly that victory was on the horizon a few hours from when counting had started... I wonder!
Jason Borg
Dec 29th 2008, 19:41
This is what you get when you appeal for the " suldati tal-azzar " to help you....The " suldati tal-azzar that vanished under Sant's leadership are coming back home...Muscat in his first speech as leader said, that Labour doors are open to everyone...even those who left the labour party in the past years. Muscat recalled everyone !
LZammit
Dec 29th 2008, 19:33
I think you are very wrong Mr Ellul. Give them the chance. Thay will NEVER change.
lgalea
Dec 29th 2008, 19:07
victor vella
Are you a prophet or read people's minds?
What has celebrating got to do with smashing clubs?
Wake up victor and stop living in the past.
D Ellul
Dec 29th 2008, 18:44
@Victor Vella
I don't agree with those that are trying to portray the Labour party as violent just because of this one-off case. Violence has been eradicated from Maltese politics a long time ago, let's not go there again. In 1996 no clubs were 'smashed'.
victor vella
Dec 29th 2008, 18:22
So much for the new Labour promoted by Alfred Sant, they were celebrating Labour vctory in front of the PN Club in anticipation of confirmation of the results with the usual labour results of smashing clubs.Some people can never be trusted to have thier party in power and I don't envy Joseph Muscat trying to change thier mentality.
michael fenech
Dec 29th 2008, 18:11
@ J. Vella,
Mr. Vella as you know by now I don't agree with you on a lot of things, but on this one I can't agree with more,there is nothing wrong with disagreeing with one's political views,but to take it to this level I say NO. Mr.Saliba, if found guilty, was way out of line and as you said lets hope that justice will prevail.
Jos Vella
Dec 29th 2008, 17:35
The accused is claiming that he was punched; even if it was the case, there were 20 innocent people at the club who had nothing to do with punches (because if they all blew a punch, the accused would not even have the strength to move a finger....ahseb u ara drive his van and hold a gun).
Hope that justice will prevail.
D Ellul
Dec 29th 2008, 17:21
Let's just hope that this was a one-off incident and remember that we are all Maltese after all, regardless of which political party we support. At the end of the day, PL, PN, AD, etc all want the best for Malta and the Maltese.
Charles Micallef
Dec 29th 2008, 16:41
MALTA HAS NO TIME FOR COWBOYS OF ANY POLITICAL PERSUASION, CREED OR COLOUR...................
E. Vassallo
Dec 29th 2008, 16:15
Thank God that no one was killed that night.