A close friend of former Labour MP Anthony Zammit described in court this morning how he found the MP bound and naked on his bed after intruders made their way into his house in Zebbug in August 2008.
He was testifying in the trial of Kenneth Ellul, 39 of Floriana, known as Il-Lula, who stands accused of theft and violently assaulting the then Labour MP at his residence in Zebbug on the night of August 11-12, 2008.
Philip Schembri said that he used to look after the victim's house while his wife would wash his clothes and cook for him.
On the day in question, he was woken up by a phone call. The person on the other end (a policeman) asked him to go to Prof. Zammit's home as he had been burgled.
He went on site and on opening the door he heard moaning from the bedroom. The room was locked. The policemen kicked the door in and they found Prof Zammit naked, lying face down on the bed, badly bruised, hands tied behind his back. A doctor was called and he assisted Prof Zammit downstairs and prepared some coffee.
Prof Zammit then recounted how the intruders had barged in on him and demanded money.
Mr Schembri said the rooms had not been ransacked and it didn't look like there had been a theft. However items were missing from one display cabinet.
Mr Schembri explained how Prof Zammit had given him his house key, and he would call him to open the door whenever somebody needed to make deliveries.
Another witness, Alfred Cauchi, told the court that besides locking sideways, the lock also had extensions directed upwards and downwards. The lock came with five keys and Prof. Zammit had asked for another two to be made.
Zurrieq mayor Natius Farrugia told the court that on the night he had picked up Prof Zammit and they dined out together. He then drove him back home.
Mr Farrugia said he had not noticed anyone following them.
Police Major Joseph Borg said that Prof Zammit’s bedroom and kitchen had been ransacked.
Court appointed expert Richard Aquilina concluded in his report that the aggressors must have had prior knowledge of the labyrinth that is Mr Zammit's house.
He noted that there was a lot of debris strewn around and there was no sign of forced entry to the house.
The trial continues.
Yesterday, a police inspector testified how Prof Zammit had explained that the intruders demanded a substantial amount of cash. They beat him over a period of two hours and threatened to cut off his fingers if he did not give him the cash.