Former GRTU council member Sandro Chetcuti told a court today that he still could not believe he had been originally charged with the attempted murder of GRTU director general Vince Farrugia.
Testifying in court this morning, Mr Chetcuti, 41, who now stands accused of having assaulted and seriously injured Mr Farrugia on March 11, 2010, said he had been elected on the GRTU council in 2010 election despite a block vote against him.
A property developer, Mr Chetcuti said that when Mr Farrugia decided to contest the MEP elections, the council was divided and Mr Farrugia asked him for his help.
He said he told Mr Farrugia he did not believe that what he was doing was the right thing, and, therefore, he could not support him.
However, he still gave him a personal donation of €4,000, and found him catering and printing sponsorships.
But Mr Farrugia was still not happy and used to bully him and shout at him, Mr Chetcuti said.
Mr Chetcuti said Mr Farrugia told him that had he not mixed with ‘those demons’, referring to the Labour Party, he could have got him one of the best positions in government because he (Mr Farrugia) had a lot of power.
Defence lawyer Emanuel Mallia then read out SMSes Mr Chetcuti had received and asked his client if he had spoken to Mr Farrugia about them.
Mr Chetcuti said he had told Mr Farrugia that partisan matters were harming the association and its members, even those who were Nationalist. Mr Farrugia, he said, ignored him and shouted at him.
These SMSes, Mr Chetcuti said, showed that the GRTU had become one with the Nationalist Party. He said he asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister and spoke with the PM about his concerns during that meeting.
He said he met Mr Farrugia over lunch and was accused of getting involved with the Labour Party. Mr Chetcuti said he told Mr Farrugia that he did not need the GRTU and could start his own association.
Mr Chetcuti said that he was in London and received an SMS from Mr Farrugia, which the director general intended to send to Paul Abela.
Mr Chetcuti said he wanted to send an SMS to Joseph Muscat to show him what he was doing but sent it to Mr Farrugia in error.
He asked Go Mobile for an itemised bill to prove that it was not sent to anyone else and called Mr Farrugia who told him he could see him on the following day.
When he went to meet Mr Farrugia, the latter started shouting. Over coffee later, Mr Attard told him that Mr Farrugia and the others wanted to get rid of him.
Mr Chetcuti said he returned to the GRTU and as he walked in, there were Mr Farrugia, Silvia Gauci and Mr Abela. Mr Abela left even though he (Mr Chetcuti) told him it was ok to stay. Mr Chetcuti said he sat at the head of the head of table and Mr Farrugia was on the side. Mr Farrugia accused him of being a fraudster as he started hitting him with papers.
Mr Chetcuti said he never raised his voice even as Mr Farrugia shouted at him to get out. Mr Farrugia remained aggressive, he asked him to stop but he, (Farrugia), that him he could shout as much as he liked.
“I reacted and pushed him from his face.”
Mr Chetcuti said Mr Farrugia started shouting “look what he did”.
Mr Chetcuti said Mr Abela asked him to go home as Mr Farrugia stood up and went to wash his face. On his way out, Mr Chetcuti said, he told him Mr Farrugia he would kill him.
“I admit it was wrong of me to say this but it is how I reacted in the heat of the moment.”
Mr Chetcuti said he was then called by the police inspector who asked him what had happened.
A police officer warned him to be careful and asked him not to take it against the inspector who was following orders from above.
“I still cannot believe that I was charged with attempted murder. I'm very disappointed,” Mr Chetcuti said.
The case continues.