Family members of two men charged with murder were warned by a magistrate yesterday they would be barred from attending sittings if they persisted in passing comments.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud asked Magistrate Josette Demicoli to expel them from the courtroom after they continuously interrupted witnesses.

The prosecuting officer said this was a very delicate case of certain importance.

James Vella, 33, of Qormi, known as Il-Frejżer, and Chris Scerri, 35, of Pietá, Gazzetti or Buttuni, are pleading not guilty to murdering Alphonse Ferriggi, 42, on September 18, 2000 outside the Bank of Valletta branch in San Ġwann. Mr Ferriggi was delivering mail to the bank in the early hours when a group of four men drove up and shot him in the head at near point-blank range, thinking he was carrying money.

Joseph Zammit, 57, of Floriana, known as Żeppi ir-Redgħu, was jailed for 31 years in 2009 for the murder and Richard Grech, 47, Iż-Żinanna, was jailed for life in May 2011.

George Debono testified that he knew the accused because they hailed from Qormi.

He said that on one occasion Mr Vella had asked him to use a car he had rented – something he used to do often – to go out with his girlfriend.

He could not remember whether Mr Vella had actually taken the car but he did recall picking it up from outside a band club.

The police are alleging this vehicle was used in the crime. The case continues.