'I opted for knife instead of harpoon'
'Accused had blood stains on his clothes'
It was a choice between a harpoon and a knife and the man accused of murdering Anthony Borg, known as Il-Bona, last month opted for the latter before proceeding to Marsaxlokk square to meet the victim, a magistrate heard yesterday.
Testifying yesterday, Police Constables Edmond Grima and Jean Claude Debono said Allan Galea, 31, insisted on telling Inspector Chris Pullicino his story as soon as they took him to the police headquarters shortly after Mr Borg, 39, was found dead in Marsaxlokk on February 21.
Despite being cautioned twice, they said Mr Galea told Inspector Pullicino he would only call a lawyer after he told him what had happened. Referring to a report they wrote that day, the policemen said Mr Galea, who was clearly injured, told them he had received a phone call from Mr Borg asking him to go to the square at Marsaxlokk to talk as there would be people present. The accused said he told Mr Borg he was not a boy, did not fear him and indeed could stand up to him.
Mr Galea told the police he dismantled his stall at the flea market and considered taking a harpoon with him to the meeting but decided on a knife instead.
When he arrived at the square, he was assaulted by Mr Borg and his brother Frans, the accused told the investigating officer. He admitted stabbing the victim and then running away having been punched.
PCs Bernard Wood and Manuel Tonna, who were on patrol in the vicinity and, therefore, the first to arrive on the scene, testified that they apprehended Mr Galea after eyewitnesses told them in which direction he had run.
They said they were first approached by Frans Borg who told them that his brother was murdered by Mr Galea, who was wearing a white top and jeans, and had ran away.
The two officers said they gave chase on foot and spotted the accused in the distance because of the blood stains on his clothes. They caught up with him and arrested him.
Mr Galea was then handed over to PC Grima and PC Debono, who were also looking for him and happened to drive by when he was caught.
Leandra Mizzi, a nurse, and Frank Aquilina, an ambulance porter, told Magistrate Miriam Hayman they had been dispatched to the scene of the crime and told a shooting had taken place.
Ms Mizzi said she immediately called for a doctor when she saw that Mr Borg was dead and Mr Aquilina covered his body with a sheet. She said she had noted a wound on Mr Borg's right hand side and a knife lying by his side.
Martin Mallia, a medical doctor on duty at a nearby health clinic, said he arrived shortly after and certified Mr Borg dead.
Mr Galea is pleading not guilty to murder, carrying a knife during the commission of a crime and not having a licence to carry such a weapon.
Inspectors Pullicino, Joseph Mercieca and Priscilla Caruana are prosecuting.
Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran, Joe Giglio and Stephen Tonna Lowell are appearing for Mr Galea.
Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli are appearing on behalf of Mr Borg's family.