Former police inspector Daniel Zammit will be summoned to court to testify on whether he was aware that the crime scene of a 2008 murder – a house in Qormi – had been converted into a blockof apartments.

The request was made by lawyer Edward Gatt, appearing parte civile for the family of Neville Baldacchino, who was shot several times on December 19, 2008, in the house of the accused. Stephen Caruana stands charged with the murder.

In 2008, the court heard that Mr Caruana, who was asleep at home with his wife and four children, was awoken by a sound. He became frightened when he discovered Mr Baldacchino inside his home “illegally”, according to his lawyers.

The case was initially handled by Mr Zammit.

In view of the high probability of the case being tried by jury and that jury members are usually taken to visit the crime scene, Dr Gatt asked the court to summon Mr Zammit to testify whether he knew that the crime scene had been completely eradicated and replaced with a block of apartments.

Mr Zammit will be summoned in view of the probability of a trial by jury and that jury members will be taken to the crime scene

Defence lawyer Giannella de Marco argued that the site had been visited by an architect and that no objections had been raised to the construction of apartments. The court granted Dr Gatt’s request.

Mr Zammit, 35, is embroiled in controversy due to the speed with which he was boarding out from the police force and, similarly, the speed with which he was given a €60,000 consultancy role at Enemalta, an appointment the Energy Minister eventually stopped.

In an inquiry report ordered by the Prime Minister, retired judge Michael Mallia said that Mr Zammit acted “unethically” in the homicide investigation by failing to declare business dealings with the Gaffarena family.

This conflicted with his police work and compromised his ability to investigate the shooting.

The accused, Mr Caruana, is married to Joe Gaffarena’s daughter, Romina.