Alphonse Ferriggi, the bank messenger murdered outside the Bank of Valletta branch in San Gwann was killed just three seconds after emerging from his car, a jury was told this morning.

Prosecutor Aaron Bugeja was giving evidence at the start of the trial by jury of Richard Grech, 44, who is accused of the murder.

Dr Bugeja said the accused, also known as Iz-Zinnanna, had masterminded the September 2000 crime, having recruited three accomplices.

However he was the one who pulled the trigger.

Dr Bugeja insisted that the shotgun used in the murder had been taken there for a purpose. The thieves were determined that their operation would succeed.

Ferriggi was shot at 5.24.10 am. on September 18, 2000, just three seconds after he emerged from his car and pulled out a bag of documents which he was to drop in the bank branch deposit box. The shooting appeared on CCTV.

The thieves escaped with the bag, thinking it contained cash, but it only contained documents.