Survivor fears for safety of other son

In his testimony about the failed rescue by blue trawler from Lampedusa just "minutes" after the Simshar exploded, Simon Bugeja recounts how he called out for help but the trawler just kept circling them.

In his desperation, he even tried to grab their fishing line and going right in front of the boat to stop them but nothing worked. In a last attempt, he offered those on board €3,000 so they would at least save his son Theo but the trawler kept on going.

In his first of five interviews, conducted on July 25, 2008, Mr Bugeja said he recognised the boat "because a few weeks back he had met the same boat at sea and given that boat some shrimps".

In his fourth interview, nearly a year later on June 1, he said that if the investigating team checked the Italian VMS system they would find Italian fishing vessels had passed by them on the day.

He revealed for the first time that he had seen the name of the fishing vessel, which had passed by them when they were in the water, and to whom he had even offered money.

When the inquiring lawyer pointed out that such information would be useless unless he revealed the details, Mr Bugeja remained mum saying he was scared for the safety of his remaining son.

He insisted his wife, Sharon, had told him not to say anything because "these people were vindictive".