A man described in court this afternoon how he saw two men appear to be stabbing Mario Camilleri (Junior) in a field, although he did not actually see a knife.

Emanuel Farrugia, also known as Leli id-Deffien, from Valletta, was giving evidence in the murder trial of George and Jason Galea, who stand accused of the murder of Mario Camilleri (l-Imniehru) and his son Mario near Birzebbuga in July.

Taking the witness stand, Mr Farrugia said he knew Mario Camilleri Sr because he used to be a neighbour. He also used to work for Jason Galea cleaning drinking glasses. More recently he used to run errands for him, paying people for him and picking up papers.

On July 17 Jason Galea asked him to run some errands for him at around 9.45 am. They met and he drove near the gas plant at Qajjenza close to Birzebbuga. They drove into a narrow lane and he waited in the car while Jason went to speak to someone.

When they met, Jason asked him to pick up Mario Camilleri Jr who was waiting outside his house at Ibrag.

He did so and they went to Birzebbuga. Jason phoned and directed him to drive to a field at Qajjenza. Mario Jr got out of the car and walked off with Jason.

Mr Farrugia said that as he waited, he assisted two workers who could not get their cherry picker started.

Then he happened to look into a field and saw Mario Jr on the ground. Jason  was hitting him on his lower half of his body and George Galea was standing over him at the top. It looked like they were fighting. One of them was raising his fist in a thrusting motion, but the witness said he did not see a knife.

He got scared and ran off. As he left he heard what sounded like two gun shots.

He got home and such was his fear that he lost consciousness.

When he recovered he went out to his car and suddenly Jason came up to him.

He asked him what had happened to Mario Camilleri and Jason told him not to say anything to the police. He also told him they were "Both ready" and that the boy's father was also taken care of.

Jason later gave him a bag and asked him to throw it away. He did not know what was in it and disposed of it in a skip.

Jason also wanted a change of clothes and the witness said he gave him some of his won clothes.

The witness also recalled that a few days before this incident Jason told him that there were drugs and money hidden in a field.

The case continues.