A man accused of murdering his brother-in-law, Mario Camilleri, said in court yesterday the deceased had falsely implicated him in a hold-up at a Valletta jewellery.

Jason Galea said Mr Camilleri, L-Imnieħru, hated him and his family and had told the police he was involved in the 2010 hold-up at Frank Zampa jewellery. Mr Galea is also charged with the murders of Mr Camilleri’s 21-year-old son, Mario Jr, on July 17, 2013 and of taxi driver Matthew Zahraa year before.

Mr Galea, 41, from Birżebbuġa, was testifying during the compilation of evidence in the case in which he is facing charges of taking part in the jewellery hold-up during which Frank Zampa, the owner’s father, was injured when a bullet grazed his face.

Michael Zahra, 42, of Valletta, and Marcus John Calleja, 40, of Balzan have also been arraigned over the hold-up. Mr Calleja admitted his involvement and was jailed for three years.

Mr Galea said he was not even in Valletta when the hold-up occurred because he was helping with works in a Birżebbuġa shop his daughter was opening. He said he heard about the hold-up on the news, adding that he and his wife had spent “thousands” at the jewellery shop in question.

He insisted he knew who mentioned him as a suspect to the police: “It was my brother-in-law, Mario Camilleri.”

Mr Galea said he had heard his sister – Mr Camilleri’s wife – shouting at her husband on the phone while he was in prison for drug trafficking, telling him to leave him (Mr Galea) alone.

“She told him that if I went to prison she would stop sending him money and he would also stop getting money from the outside, which he used to buy that junk he took in prison,” he added.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit, prosecuting, asked Mr Galea why he had not mentioned this at the time of his arrest. He replied: “I have been blackmailed and threatened in the past but I never reported these cases to the police because I wanted to keep the peace.”

He challenged the inspector to prove he was on the scene of the crime when the hold-up happened.

Lawyer Veronique Dalli is appearing for Mr Galea.