The tearful widow of Alphonse Ferrigi, the bank messenger shot dead outside the San Gwann Bank of Valletta branch 10 years ago told a court today how she could not believe her husband had been shot in cold blood and left for dead

"I just wanted to grab him and bring him back to life," Mary Ferrigi told a court as she recounted their last few hours together. She was testifying in the trial of Richard Grech, 44 of Qormi, who has been accused of the murder.

Ferrigi was shot dead as he delivered internal mail at the bank in September 2000.

She said that on the day before the incident, a Sunday, they had spent a beautiful day at the beach.

The next day, 'Alfie' was on the early morning shift. She too was used to getting up early. As she went about her house chores, Alfie brought her tea to the washroom and kissed her goodbye. Their 12-year-old son was still asleep.

Some time before 7 a.m. her mother-in-law phoned to tell her that she had heard about a shooting at a bank. She asked after Alphonese and whether he was at work.

Mrs Ferriggi said she had not heard anything. She then tried to phone her husband on his mobile phone, but there was no reply. She tried again, without success. She also tried the garage where he was based, again without result.

She then called her mother-in-law, telling her he may not have replied because he was driving.

As she started getting worried, Mrs Ferriggi said she tried her husband's mobile phone again. Somebody replied and told her he could not speak to her because he was at another part of the bank.

Mrs Ferrigi she tried again after a few minutes and got no reply.

By now she started getting worried and confused. She drove to the San Gwann bank, which was not far and saw a crowd of people in front of the bank an the area closed off with police tape.

As she lifted the tape and entered the area, she saw grey trousers and then a hand sticking out from under a sheet on the ground. She immediately knew it was her husband, but could not believe it.

Mrs Ferriggi remembered how she was overcome with emotion and had burst out crying. She could not believe that her husband, who was with her an horu before, was dead.

"I just wanted to grab him and bring him back to life," she told the court.

Mrs Ferriggi said that after she was taken back home, her mother-in-law called again, but she could not bring herself to tell her the news.

Sounding angry, Mrs Ferriggi said that 10 years on, she could still not imagine telling her mother-in-law that somebody had shot her son in cold blood and left him for dead in the street.

"They used to call us the ideal couple, but it was not to be," she said as she clasped her hands tightly.

The trial continues.