A man charged with complicity in a 2009 armed robbery and the attempted murder of a shop owner insisted in court today that he knew nothing of the crime and that the first time he had seen the weapon was when it was pointed at him. 

Matthew Mizzi, 29, of Cospicua told jurors that he knew nothing about the robbery and he had simply given the perpetrator, Jonathan Coleiro, a lift to Birkirkara. 

Mr Coleiro, is serving a 15-year prison sentence for his part in the armed robbery on Seven Mobile shop in Psaila Street on April 13. During the robbery, shop owner Charles Zammit was shot twice. 

Mr Coleiro told jurors earlier this week that it was Mr Mizzi who had provided the revolver used in the hold-up.  

But Mr Mizzi, who took the witness stand in his defence as his trial by jury nears an end, insisted today that the first time he had seen the weapon was soon after the robbery when Mr Coleiro, who he had given a lift to Birkirkara, pointed it at his face and ordered him to drive off. 

He said he had simply done Mr Coleiro a favour and was waiting in the car as Mr Coleiro had told him he would not be long. 

Mr Mizzi said he heard two gunshots and Mr Coleiro, wearing a balaclava told him: "If you drive away, I will shoot you." He did not recognise him as the man whom he had earlier given a lift to, until he got in, ordered him to drive off and removed the balaclava. 

Mr Mizzi said Mr Coleiro told him to invent a story to create an alibi and file a false report with the police that he had been the victim of carjacking. 

“There will be serious consequences for you otherwise, you know what I am capable of doing,” Mr Mizzi said Mr Coleiro had told him as he held the revolver.

Mr Mizzi said he went straight to the Msida police station and explained that he went to Brikirkara to drop off a woman and was car-jacked by a gunman wearing a balaclava. 

But during questioning at the police depot later that day, Mr Mizzi changed his version and said that he had given Mr Coleiro a lift to the shop and had driven him away after the robbery. 

He told jurors he had lied because he was scared of what Mr Coleiro would have done to him and his family. 

I am innocent. I had nothing to do with this. If you allow me I will continue bringing up my two children, one of whom is not even my own- The accused

“I told them the truth. Apart from the initial story about the woman, I told them the truth.

I invented that story because I was threatened and scared. The first time I saw the revolver was when it was pointed at my face. I have never touched a firearm before," he insisted.

“I am innocent. I had nothing to do with this. If you allow me I will continue bringing up my two children, one of whom is not even my own,” Mr Mizzi told jurors.

Under cross examination, Mr Mizzi said that although he knew Mr Coleiro as they attended the same school, they were not good friends. He said it was only a coincidence that they had similar tattoos. 

He admitted he had given Mr Coleiro a lift when he had no driving licence and even that he had filed a false police report. 

Earlier in today’s sitting, Defence lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha complained about a comment posted by Mr Zammit on timesofmalta.com, who at the time owned the mobile phone shop and who testified yesterday. In his comment he said: "I hope he gets 15 like the other one involved".

Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi assured the defence that jurors were totally cut off and do not have access to internet, newspapers, radio, television or mobile phones.