Despite having killed an innocent bystander with a bomb intended for his former sister-in-law, Ronnie Azzopardi persisted in trying to contract his relative’s murder, jurors heard yesterday.
The social worker told me his client had confided in him that the accused had asked him to murder Ms Cassar
Horrific details emerged in the proceedings as 41-year-old Mr Azzopardi pleaded not guilty to one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder when he planted a bomb in Our Lady of Mercy Street, Żejtun, on June 18, 2005.
Mr Azzopardi is charged with the murder of Angela Bondin and with trying to kill Mary Rose Cassar, who is his former sister-in-law, and her sons Jesmar, seven at the time, Jean Leon, four, and 20-month old Kevin. He is also charged with seriously injuring Therese Grima and damaging property.
Mr Azzopardi is currently serving a 20-year jail term for trying to kill Melchior Spiteri's brother. Melchoir had murdered his brother Jason. Mr Spiteri is currently serving a 30-year jail term for the homicide.
Police Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo yesterday testified that following the explosion, he was approached by the social worker of a friend of the accused.
The social worker told him that his client, Matthew Pace, had confided in him that the accused had asked Mr Pace to murder Ms Cassar and that he would provide everything necessary, such as the gun, the transport and payment.
Mr Pace later told the police that he refused outright and he heard nothing since.
The day of the tragedy started out as any other for Ms Grima and her husband, who were decorating their roof for the village feast, Superintendent Bartolo testified.
She wanted everything to be pristine because the village band was to make its way down their street.
At one point the couple noticed a dark car come through their street and leave what they thought was a garbage bag in front of their letter box.
Annoyed, the wife went downstairs to move it to her son’s garage, which was still in shell form, for collection by the garbage truck the following Monday.
Just after putting the bag down, she met Ms Bondin and the two women stopped to chat. That was when the explosion happened. Ms Bondin died from her injuries three weeks later.
At the scene, Supt. Bartolo said he noticed the sister of Jason Azzopardi, the man murdered by Mr Spiteri, and asked her what she was doing there.
Ms Cassar said she was very worried because her brother-in-law, the accused, was threatening to kill her over a Mercedes Benz that his brother had left to her in his will.
The woman said the bomb had been left in the parking spot she usually used when she visited family in the same street.
The Superintendent said Mr Grima had identified the accused as the person who had left the package outside their house and also gave a similar description of the car used to drop off the bomb – a Seat Toledo.
The trial is expected to continue this morning.