The prosecution in the trial by jury of Joseph Zammit, who stands charged with murdering a bank messenger in a botched robbery, yesterday told jurors the accused did not have to pull the trigger to be found guilty.

The prosecution said there was enough evidence to show that Mr Zammit was not only an accomplice in the bank robbery but also in Alphonse Ferriggi's murder.

The murder took place at 5.24 a.m. on September 18, 2000 as Mr Ferriggi was delivering mail bags to the San Ġwann Bank of Valletta branch. He was shot once in the head with a shotgun.

It is not clear who shot him but the accused allegedly went to the bank with three accomplices - none of them have been tried yet - with the intention of robbing Mr Ferriggi, thinking he was carrying money.

The defence team harped on the fact that there was nothing to identify the shooter, insisting there was not a shred of evidence to find Mr Zammit guilty of murder. The defence team is not contesting the theft charges but is arguing that their client was in no way involved in the murder.

Defence lawyer Josè Herrera referred to two witnesses, Ninu Frendo and Dominic Chircop, who had gone to the police voluntarily to give information on the case, and argued that their evidence exculpated their client.

On Tuesday, they testified that in separate conversations, Mr Zammit had said he was not the person who shot the victim but was only the driver of the getaway car.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, presiding over the trial, then started his summing up to the jurors and is expected to finish today when the jurors are likely to retire to deliberate.

Lawyer Aaron Bugeja from the Attorney General's Office prosecuted, assisted by Nadine Sant.

Lawyers David and Stephen Farrugia Sacco and Josè Herrera appeared for Mr Zammit.