Cashier petrified by robbers with knives
A supermarket cashier told a court of the fear she felt when two men brandishing knives stormed in swearing and demanding cash. Beverly Walker said one of the robbers placed his knife against her body and she was so scared she ran away. She had been...
A supermarket cashier told a court of the fear she felt when two men brandishing knives stormed in swearing and demanding cash.
Beverly Walker said one of the robbers placed his knife against her body and she was so scared she ran away.
She had been giving a customer change at the time so her till was open and the robber helped himself to the cash.
Ms Walker was testifying in the compilation of evidence against Jesmond Portelli and Manuel Ciappara, both 27, who stand charged with committing armed robbery at Greens Supermarket in Tal-Ibraġ on April 3.
They are also accused of stealing about €2,500 and making unlawful use of weapons.
The two were allegedly caught in Naxxar by the police after a chase along the coast road.
Her colleague, Diane Debono, told Magistrate Neville Camilleri a similar story: One of the men, who was hooded and carrying a knife, swore at her, demanded cash from her till, grabbed the money and ran.
Customer Nicholas Pillow said that as he was about to enter the supermarket to buy a carton of orange juice he saw a white car parked outside and the two men running towards it, with the supermarket owner in hot pursuit. He tried to intervene but the two drove off.
He also recalled seeing a man trying to cover the car’s number plate with tape. He said that one of the two men was wearing a hood and he only saw the second one from the back as they drove off at speed.
Another witness, Jonathan Sammut, said he saw a car stop outside Greens and noticed that its number plate was covered with tape. Suddenly there was a commotion and he saw two hooded men race out of the shop. One of them carried a knife. The men drove off in the car.
Matthew Sammut, who was shopping nearby, said he saw two hooded men rush out of the supermarket and drive off in a white car. He said his father followed them in a van but lost them after a short while.
At the end of the sitting, Magistrate Camilleri once again turned down a request for bail. The accused were remanded in custody.
Police Inspector Trevor Micallef prosecuted while lawyers Chris Cardona and Roberto Montalto appeared for the accused.