One of the two men jailed for the cold-blooded murder of Bank of Valletta messenger Alphonse Ferriggi was back in court today to give evidence during the compilation of evidence against another two persons accused of the murder in San Gwann 14 years ago.

James Vella, 33, of Qormi, known as Il-Frejżer, and Chris Scerri, 35, of Pieta, known as Gazzetti or Buttuni, were arrested and arraigned last week. They are pleading not guilty. 

Alphonese Ferriggi

Mr Ferriggi was shot when he was about to deposit documents at the bank before opening time. The robbers thought he was carrying money.

Taking the witness stand, Joseph Zammit, who is serving 30 years for being an accomplice in the murder, said that he did not know who the person who was shot was.

He said that he was the getaway driver. On the morning of the murder, some people had picked him up but he did recall who they were, although Richard Grech (now in prison) was among them. Later he said he recognised Chris Scerri and James Vella. He said he argued with them because he didn't want to go.

"I'm inside prison for nothing. These three men wanted me to drop them off in San Gwann which I did, and then left," he said. They then used another car.

Asked other details he said he couldn't even remember if he had tea this morning.

He said he went to Birkirkara, left the car there and got a lift back home.

The first to give evidence today was Police Inspector Keith Arnaud who said that after 2011, a police review was carried out on the murder.

In 2011, accused Richard Grech and Joseph Zammit had in court testimony during their trial named James Vella and Chris Scerri as being involved.

The police spoke to a number of people including Christian Mangion, who lived near the bank and heard the gunshot and found the body.

Another described how a Volkswagen Golf had made a u-turn at the bank and sped off. The car was found later. It had been stolen the day before and was the car used in the hold-up.

Confidential information received by the police mentioned that the accused were involved. In 2002, the police were informed by Anthony Frendo, il ballerin, that he knew the crime was committed by four people. He told the police that he saw the four together near a school in Qormi and the when he heard that there was a murder, he immediately thought it was them.

Joseph Zammit had claimed he was not involved as he was the getaway car driver, and that Richard Gauci had fired the gun. Mr Zammit had always claimed that he was approached by Richard Gauci who said he had a well paid job to do and he accepted to be the getaway driver. Vella and Scerri had called at his house for him to go with them and he initially refused to go.

Richard Grech had told the police that James Vella was the person who came up with the idea.

Mr Vella had noted that  a bank employee  depositing things at the bank and they thought it was money. (It was actually documents). Richard said that he had gone with the accused to pick up Joseph Zammit the getaway driver.
Richard said that he went to get a drink  because he had a drink problem. James Vella told him that Chris Scerri and fired the gun and shot Mr Ferriggi dead.

The accused never answered any questions in their statements. The inspector noted that in a statement by Scerri in 2003, he said he was with someone else at that time but he refused to say who that was unless he had a lawyer. In the recent statement he refused to say who this person was or to answer questions about it.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are defence counsel for the two accused.