Owen Bonnici, 29 of Qormi, this morning started undergoing trial by jury after having been accused of the possession of a kilo of cannabis which was not for his exclusive use.

The drug was discovered by the Drug Squad in June 2004 during a search while Mr Bonnici was in Qormi FC club, where he was barman.

Jurors were told that in a statement to the police, the accused said he had been asked by a man called Victor Magri to keep the packet for him. He did not know it contained drugs, as it was normal that he would be asked to keep things for people behind the bar.

Mr Magri was killed some years ago in Ta' Qali.

Pharmacist Mario Mifsud said that only 10% of the substance found was actually cannabis. Its street value at the time was €6 per gramme. He said it was normal for cannabis to be made up of that amount.

The trial is being presided by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.

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