'Neighbours shot over €120 damage to accused's car'

A man allegedly tried to kill two Mosta neighbours over damage to his car that amounted to a mere €120, a court heard yesterday.

Carmelo Camilleri, 57, is being charged with the attempted murder of a woman and her son when he flew into a rage over the fact that her other son, who had accidentally reversed into his car, had not yet paid him for the repairs.

Mr Camilleri allegedly shot at Mary Galea, 48 and her son Clint, 22, from the rooftop of his apartment in Mosta on Saturday, August 8.

Limping up to the witness stand, Mrs Galea told the court that her son Massimo had come to an agreement with Mr Camilleri to repair the €120 worth of damage. She said a sprayer friend of his had to go round and speak to Mr Camilleri about it.

On the day of the shooting, her other son Clint had gone out to meet a friend who was waiting at the front door and Mr Camilleri saw him and started shouting, " I will smash you, I am going to get my gun," she said.

Clint ran back into the house and told his mother to get into the bathroom when they heard two shots being fired.

There was silence after that but since her husband was on his way back from work she told her son to go out and meet him around the corner to warn him that Mr Camilleri was shooting.

"I followed Clint out and I heard a bang. We both ran behind the washing that was hanging on the parapet and when another shot rang out, I felt the lead pellets hit me," Mrs Galea said.

She then walked up to Magistrate Edwina Grima to let her feel her cheek where some pellets were still lodged.

Just as the two were hit, she continued, her husband walked around the corner and Clint ran over to him and managed to push him out of harm's way. This version, however, is partly contradicted by the testimony of Police Inspector Michael Mallia who said that only two cartridges were found on site.

Moreover, the officer said a resident in the street who wanted to remain anonymous had confirmed that only two shots were fired.

During cross examination, Inspector Mallia said he had known Massimo Galea for quite a number of years as he was well known to the police.

On being questioned, the inspector said, Mr Camilleri admitted to him that he had fired the shots at the two victims a day after he had asked Massimo Galea for the money to fix the car.

Mr Camilleri said that when he asked him for the money, Mr Galea had given him the finger.

Police Inspector Edmond Cuschieri also prosecuted.

Lawyer Anġlu Farrugia also appeared for the accused.

The compilation of evidence will continue next Friday.