Two men were this afternoon remanded in custody after they pleaded not guilty to the murder of bank messenger Alphonse Ferriggi on September 18, 2000 outside a San Gwann branch of Bank of Valletta.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono asked why his clients, James Vella, 33, of Qormi, known as Il-Frejżer, and Chris Scerri, 35, of Pieta, known as Gazzetti or Buttuni, were arrested and charged when the crime was committed in 2000.

Police Inspector Chris Pullicino, said there was direct testimony and witnesses placing the two accused on the scene, as well as other pieces of information that corroborated this, besides forensic evidence.

He said a warrant had been sought and granted by a magistrate who ordered the arrest.

Invoking the new law on right of disclosure, Dr Debono asked the police to say what the new evidence was.

Inspector Pullicino said that while carrying out a review of the case, the police took cognisance of the testimony of the two men who were already convicted, and who had said that these men had also been involved.

Magistrate Gabriella Vella declared that the arrest was valid and conformed with the law.

In pleading not guilty to the charges, Mr Vella said he did not know anything about the case.

Alphonse Ferriggi had been delivering mail when he was shot in the head at almost point blank range and left for dead on the pavement. His assailants thought the mail bags he was carrying contained money.

In May 2011, Richard Grech, known as Iz-Zinanna of Qormi, was jailed for life after jurors found him guilty of the murder.

The getaway driver, Joseph Zammit, was already in jail for his part in the murder.