UPDATED: Police Commissioner John Rizzo told a court this morning how he had been given statements where the three men allegedly involved in the murder of warden Fortunata Spiteri nine years ago, admitted their involvement.

He was giving evidence at the start of the trial of Gianni Attard, 64 of Xaghra, who stands accused of having been the mastermind behind the fatal stabbing of the warden in August 2001 on the road between Victoria and Gharb.

Fortunata Spiteri, 47, was stabbed six times while on duty. It is alleged that the murder was motivated by Mr Attard's anger for being repeatedly booked.

Another two men were also arraigned in connection with the case - Zeppi Farrugia, who has since died, and Benny Attard, who pleaded guilty and had a 30-year jail sentence confirmed on apeal two years ago. During Mr Attard's appeal, defence counsel Anglu Farrugia had argued that his client was ready to testify against third persons, adding that he was not the principal actor in the murder.

Taking the witness stand this morning, Police Commissioner John Rizzo said that on August 10, 2001 he was informed that there was murder in Gozo. Initial investigations showed that the warden issued her last ticket to a doctor at around 9.45 p.m.. She was killed 9.50 and 9.55 p.m.

Mr Rizzo said that after he was appointed Commissioner, he was told that there was a person she knew who was involved. Benny Attard was identified as a suspect.

Zeppi Farrugia used to live with the Attard family.

When he interrogated Mr Farrugia he admitted he knew everything about the case and gave details. In a statement to the police, Mr Farrugia said the two of them had met the accused on a bus.

The accused asked Mr Attard if he would help him with something he needed to do.

Farrugia told the police he had also agreed to help out, for money.

At a second meeting with the accused, the three agreed to kill the warden during the feast of San Lawrenz.

The accused picked them up in his car.

Benny Attard, who was wearing a mask, got out of the car and started stabbing the warden.

She fell to the ground, got up and staggered to her car.

Farrugia told the police that Attard had a wad of Lm10, but he did not give him one cent.

Mr Farrugia (who was an elderly man) had told the police that he was very afraid Benny Attard as he used to hit him, to the extent that he once ended up in hospital.

Mr Rizzo said he also spoke to Maria Attard, Benny's sister, who initially denied any involvement but later cooperated with the police.

She corroborated everything that Mr Farrugia said save a few small details like the amount of money received by Benny Attard - it was actually Lm200 and not Lm5,000.

She said that when they went to kill the warden, Mr Farrugia had also produced a knife. The warden recognised him and he went behind the car.

Mr Rizzo said that Benny Attard had denied everything.

He later spoke to Gianni Attard. He denied everything but later began admitting piece by piece the information that Farrugia and Attard had given him.

He however denied that he was the one who commissioned the murder. He said that he had given money to Benny Attard because he was scared.

He had claimed that it was Benny Attard who told him to drive to the site on the road to Gharb.

At the scene, Benny Attard almost immediately wore the mask and began stabbing the warden.

The trial continues.