A man standing trial for fatally shooting his neighbour today
described in court how he fired the first shot because he was frightened of him
then, as he felt a dark cloud coming over him, he fired a second shot.

“I shot because I was scared. I did not want to... He had just beaten
be... I was scared and wanted to protect myself and my family... Till this
day I dream about the case,” Raymond Camilleri said as he gave a step by
step account on the events that led to him shooting Christopher Camilleri.

Raymond Camilleri, 43, of Zurrieq, took the stand in his defence during
his trial by jury, presided by Mr Justice Giannino Caruana Demajo, in
which he is pleading not guilty to the murder of 24-year-old Christopher
Camilleri on October 6, 1999.

The accused explained how he got to know Christopher Camilleri some years
back when they both worked with Elbros Limited in construction. “He was
not like me. He used to blaspheme. He was very nervous and when he lost
his temper he started banging and breaking things,” he said, adding that
Christopher Camilleri used to eat his lunch with a pen knife that he often
brandished around during an argument at work.

Once his employer had sent him to get a cable extension from Christopher
Camilleri but he did not let him take it. His employer overheard this and
eventually sacked Christopher Camilleri. That was the last time he saw
Christopher Camilleri  until, some years later, he moved into his
neighbourhood.

Whenever he met him in the road Raymond Camilleri would greet him but
Christopher Camilleri would ignore him. He thought that perhaps
Christopher Camilleri thought he had betrayed him with his past employer.
On about two occasions he had asked Christopher Camilleri not to park in a
particular spot in front of his house since that obstructed the ramp
leading to his garage and he had problems driving out his van in the
morning. Christopher Camilleri snapped at him when he told him that and
even threatened to kill him.

He explained that at the time he sold fruit and vegetables and used a
rather large van for work. He also worked with the Public Works
department.

On that night he pulled into his road at about 10.30 p.m. after a long day
at work that started at about 4.30 a.m. Christopher Camilleri’s car was
parked in front of his house but was not blocking his garage. He decided
to park behind Christopher Camilleri’s car and, as he was parking, the
clutch slipped from under his foot and he hit his car.

Christopher Camilleri went out into his balcony and started shouting and
yelling threats at the accused. Raymond Camilleri insisted that it was an
accident but Christopher Camilleri threatened to burn his car and headed
downstairs.

Meanwhile, the accused said, he was on his way into his house. Christopher
Camilleri approached him. Again, he told him it was an accident and if
need be they would call the police to verify the damage.

When Christopher Camilleri heard the word “police” he went crazy and tried
to kick Raymond Camilleri and even punched him in the face. Christopher
Camilleri had one arm in a cast and told him that, if he had the use of
both arms, he would have ended up worse.

“I ran inside the garage. I was scared he was coming behind
me and that he would have the knife I used to see him with... Then I went
for the weapon to protect myself because I was scared of him.

“I remember  I grabbed the cartridges and the shot gun, I was scared as I
thought he was inside the garage. I looked around and went to close the
door. I looked outside and saw him on the ramp run towards me

“I got a fright and fired the first shot. A dark cloud came over me. I
fired the second shot. I was not seeing what I was going... I was not sure
whether I had hit him the first time. It was dark outside. But the second
time I saw him leaning to one side. Then he went behind a car and I did
not see him any longer,” he said.

Raymond Camilleri added that he then went back inside the house and saw
his wife. He told her what had happened and told her he wanted to take the
car and drive off a cliff.

“She begged me not to and told me to go to the police station. And I did.
I went outside and she followed me  to the door, probably to ensure I did
not take the car. I then walked it to the police station,” he said.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi from the Attorney General’s office is prosecuting.
Lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran and Emmanuel Mallia are defence counsel
while lawyer Owen Bonnici is appearing in parte civile.