A man accused of being an accomplice in a hold-up at a Birkirkara shop in 2009 was identified in court today as the person who was at the wheel of the getaway car.

Charles Zammit, who at the time owned the Seven Mobiles shop in Psaila Street, Birkirkara, said he recognised the accused Matthew Mizzi, after having chased a man who had just stolen three mobile phones and a laptop from his shop.

Mr Zammit said that although the thief had opened fire at him and his him in his left arm, he still chased him until he escaped in a car driven by the accused.

The shop owner was testifying in Mr Mizzi's trial by jury. Mr Mizzi stands charged with being an accomplice in an attempted murder carried out by the thief, Jonathan Coleiro, who is now serving a 15 year jail term.

He is also accused of being in possession of a firearm, filing a false police report and driving the car without a licence.

Mr Zammit recounted that on April 13, 2009 a man wearing a balaclava (Mr Coleiro) entered his shop and told him to go into  a small room at the back while threatening him with a gun. Mr Zammit said that when he refused, Mr Coleiro fired from close range and hit the gypsum walls of the shop.

Mr Coleiro then ran off with three mobiles and a laptop. As he gave chase, the Mr Coleiro fired at him six times, and after the third shot a bullet went right through his left arm.

Asked by the prosecution why he still kept running even though he was putting his life at risk, the shop owner said at the time he was not in complete control of himself.

“When I was hit, I barely felt anything apart from a pinch in my arm and this made me even more resolute to catch him,”  Mr Zammit said.

The thief entered a three-door Hyundai Accent with tinted, glass which was waiting for him across the road and sped away immediately. However, he memorised its registration plate and soon after phoned the police to file a report. Mr Mizzi was driving the car.

Mr Coleiro confirmed that some time before the hold-up both men had gone to his shop and signed a mobile telephony contract.

Earlier Inspector Kevin Farrugia testified that the accused had given conflicting versions of events, fuelling police suspicions. At first he filed a report at the Msida police station claiming a man wearing a balaclava had ordered him to drive him to the shop and wait for him outside. The accused had said he happened to be there as he was waiting for his girlfriend in Birkirkara. But he had no contact address for the girlfriend, claiming he only met her two weeks previously. 

Eventually the accused said he could recognise the aggressor (Mr Coleiro) as he had removed the balaclava after committing the hold-up. In the third version the accused said that he had been asked by Mr Coleiro to take him for an errand in Birkirkara, but only realised his real intentions when he returned  with the stolen items.