Man recounts torture ordeal

A man who was allegedly bound and tortured in a house in Valletta earlier this month recounted his ordeal to a court today, saying he had been tied, beaten and doused in petrol.

Carmelo Muscat said that he was at Vincent Attard’s residence in Republic Street on the night between October 11 and 12. As he was about to leave, Mr Attard pulled a knife out of his pocket, held it to his neck and accused him of spreading stories about him.

Mr Attard then called Jason Caruana, known as il-killer, asking him to come over. He told Caruana that stories had been spread about him as well.

Mr Muscat recounted that he was held at knife point while the two men tied his hands, hit him on the head with a squeegee and fractured his skull. Petrol was poured all over him and the men held a lighter above his head threatening to set him on fire. His mobile phone was smashed.

They then threw him into the shower cubicle, tying him to the water mixer. He was kept there till the morning. The two men cleaned the floor from blood.

Mr Muscat said that that at one point the police knocked on the front door. Mr Attard shoved a piece of cloth into his mouth so that he could not shout for help, and went to answer the door.

The police said that they had reports of a commotion and Mr Attard told them there had been a fight but it was now over. The police then left.

Mr Muscat said that at one point Mr Attard also started to cook heroin in front of him.

Police Inspector James Grech testified that on October 12, Mr Muscat himself had reported the incident to the police.

He said that Mr Muscat and the accused, Vincent Attard, known as ic-Cappa, had an argument about two weeks previously but had made up.

On the day of the incident, the two met at the accused’s home at about 8 p.m. As Mr Muscat was leaving, Mr Attard asked him why he had been spreading stories about him. He then threatened him with a small knife, pushed him upstairs and tied his hands to a bed.

The inspector said that the police during their investigations at the accused's residence had found blood on clothing, a mattress and a bed sheet . A squeegee was broken in two and also had blood on it. The accused was on his bed with blood splattered on him.

Inspector Grech said that apparently, Mr Attard had beaten Mr Muscat with the squeegee and Mr Muscat's blood had splattered onto him.

Mr Attard, the inspector said, had accused Mr Muscat of having been fooling about with his former girlfriend.

The case continues.