Court expert examining DVDs belonging to former inspector

A lawyer has been given the arduous task of watching some nine DVDs belonging to former police inspector David Gatt to verify that they are what they say on the box.

Lawyer Joe Mifsud, who quite appropriately majored in communications studies at the University of Malta, was nominated as a court expert yesterday during proceedings against Dr Gatt who stands charged with his involvement in a string of high profile crimes.

At the start of the criminal proceedings last year, the head investigator, Police Inspector Joseph Mercieca, said Dr Gatt used to refer to himself as the infamous Mafia boss of bosses, or Toto Riina.

This had a bearing on what evidence was elevated from property belonging to Dr Gatt, which included the DVDs of the Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola, One Hundred Days in Palermo by Giuseppe Ferrera, Bruce Lee and the cult Italian comedy movie Fantozzi. Dr Gatt is pleading not guilty to his involvement in the attempted HSBC headquarters hold-up, the failed attack on a bank van, the HSBC Balzan hold-up in which €1m were stolen, and the failed hold-up on a jeweller last November.

In the last sitting, it was revealed that he would be eligible for a €137,500 payout if he wins a civil court case for arrears after a judge ruled he was unfairly dismissed from the force in 2001.

The case continues.

Lawyer Edward Gatt appeared for Dr Gatt.