All the evidence presented to is clearly showed that the accused was the mastermind behind the murder of 47-year-old warden Fortunata Spiteri in 2001, prosecutor Lara Lanfranco, from the Attorney General’s office, said this morning.

In an impassioned four hour speech to jurors, Dr Lanfranco outlined the evidence against bus driver Gianni Attard, 64, known as Il-Muħa, who is pleading not guilty.

Benny Attard, 51, was jailed for 30 years last year for his involvement in the warden’s murder Another man, Giuseppe Farrugia, had also been charged but he died before proceedings came to an end.

Benny sister Maria, who was also present, was not charged.

Dr Lanfranco said that although Benny Attard had admitted his involvement, it was Gianni who was the mastermind behind the murder.

Fortunata was killed for nothing, she was murdered for doing her job, she said.

A crucial point, Dr Lanfranco said, was that the forensic evidence corroborated the details given in the statements by Giuseppe Farrugia and Maria and Benny Attard.