'Everybody left things behind the bar'

Friends of a man accused of trafficking one kilogramme of cannabis explained in court yesterday that everyone used to leave things behind the counter of the bar run by the accused.

They said there was a family atmosphere in the Qormi football club bar.

Owen Bonnici stands charged with trafficking in the drug at the football club bar on June 15, 2004. He insists that the drugs were left in the bar by Victor Magri, a man who was murdered in December 2004.

Silvio Bonnici, a former player and unrelated to the accused, said he had known the accused for about 13 years. The accused used to trust everyone.

The witness explained that after their training sessions, players used to leave their bags behind the bar and would often take drinks and then leave the money on the counter, especially since a family atmosphere prevailed in the bar.

"I felt at home there", he said, adding that he would even leave his wallet and keys behind the bar.

When questioned about Mr Magri he said the deceased used to frequent the bar.

On the day in question he arrived at the club and saw some people standing around and he learnt that the police had found drugs on the premises. However, it was later that he found out the details from the accused who burst into tears when recounting his ordeal.

He said he was angry with the accused because he knew what a trusting person he was and told him it was his fault for trusting everyone. In just three months, the accused and Mr Magri had built up quite a friendship, he pointed out.

The brother of the accused, who used to be the club secretary, testified that had if he ever discovered that drugs were on the premises the appropriate steps would have been taken. He said he had told his brother about a pending court case involving Mr Magri but he did not know what the case was about. The former president of the club, Redino Apap, said the accused was the type of person that would attract people and the bar would have a family atmosphere. He only knew Mr Magri because his children used to play football there and frequent the bar.

The jurors are today expected to retire to deliberate.

Lawyer Aaron Bugeja, from the Attorney General's office, prosecuted. Lawyers Joseph Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell were defence counsel.