Hold-up victim tells how he noted getaway car's number

A shop owner who was shot and injured during a hold-up at Birkirkara told a court today how he had chased the thief and noted the number of the getaway car where an accomplice was waiting.

Charles Zammit suffered injuries to an arm during the hold-up at a shop selling mobile phones in Psaila Street, Birkirkara on April 13.

His information enabled the police to arrest two men.

Mr Zammit gave evidence in the compilation of evidence against Matthew Mizzi, 22, of Cospicua who is pleading not guilty to complicity in the attempted murder of Mr Zammit, the possession of a firearm, handling stolen property, damaging the shop and driving a car without a licence.

Jonathan Coleiro, 24, is undergoing separate proceedings for the attempted murder of Mr Zammit and stealing over €2,239 worth of electronic equipment.

Mr Zammit told the court that he was in his shop, at about 6.30 p.m., when a hooded man walked in carrying a revolver. He ordered him to move into a nearby room off the shop floor. Mr Zammit obeyed after the thief fired a shot at the wall.

While in the room he heard the thief rummage through the shop and, when he heard him leave, he followed him out. The thief fired several shots at him and injured him in his left arm.

The man then hopped into the passenger seat of a green Hyundai Accent, whose number Mr Zammit noted.

Mr Zammit was later taken to Mater Dei Hospital where the police showed him several photographs and he recognised Mr Mizzi and Mr Coleiro as people who had been in his shop before.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud explained to the court that after speaking to Mr Zammit, he learnt that that same day Mr Mizzi had filed a report at Msida police station claiming that while he was in his parked car in Birkirkara, a hooded man got into his green Hyundai and ordered him to drive off at gun point.

Meanwhile, investigations into the Hyundai’s number plate revealed that the car belonged to Mr Mizzi’s brother and police also established that Mr Mizzi had been spending time with a certain Jonathan Coleiro.

Mr Mizzi was called in for questioning and initially insisted he had nothing to do with the case and was a victim to a hold-up. But when he saw a picture of Mr Coleiro in the police files, during interrogation, he changed his version and said that Mr Coleiro has asked him for a lift to Birkirkara to run an errand.

Once there, Mr Coleiro told him to stop the car by the side of the road and wait for him. After some time, a hooded man with a gun climbed into his car. That turned out to be Mr Coleiro again.

Mr Mizzi claimed he did not want to have any part in what Mr Coleiro had been up to, so he ordered him to get out of his car in Msida. He insisted he knew nothing about the planned hold-up.

Later, Mr Colerio told the police that Mr Mizzi knew about the hold-up and had actually provided the gun. Mr Coleiro told the police he had accepted to carry out the hold-up because he felt pressured since he owed Mr Mizzi money, the police inspector said.

At the end of the sitting Magistrate Demicoli ruled there were sufficient reasons for Mr Mizzi’s indictment.