Spiridione Mercieca, the man accused of shooting dead business partner Martin Scicluna in mid-September, was yesterday granted bail against a deposit of €10,000 and a personal guarantee of €20,000.

Mr Scicluna had allegedly been involved in a heated argument with Mr Mercieca when he was shot twice, the second fatal bullet hitting him just above his right eye.

Witnesses recalled hearing Mr Scicluna shouting at the accused to get out of their office. Mr Mercieca fled the scene only to return a few minutes later carrying a shotgun.

Mr Mercieca had applied for bail in early October but the request was denied because more witnesses had to testify.

The victim's wife, Mary Jacqueline Scicluna, yesterday told the court she had been going through a rough time with her husband but they were still on speaking terms.

Mr Mercieca had promised them that their son would be admitted to the De La Salle College Sixth Form, where he had wanted to go. The last SMS she had received from her husband was the day before he died and it said that her son had been admitted to the college, she testified.

When she went to speak to Bro. Martin, the college director, after the murder, he said he knew nothing about her son. According to Mrs Scicluna it was not the first time that her husband had been ridiculed by Mr Mercieca who did not keep his promises.

Speaking to her husband shortly before he died, she said he had told her that he had a feeling that Mr Mercieca had been fiddling with the finances of their company. She said she blamed her husband for not keeping an eye on Mr Mercieca.

After taking into consideration that all the witnesses had been heard, Magistrate Miriam Hayman granted bail to Mr Mercieca.

Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino, Daniel Zammit and Malcolm Bondin prosecuted.

Lawyers Joseph Giglio, Beppe Fenech Adami and Stephen Tonna Lowell are defence counsel.

Lawyers Gavin Gulia and Tonio Azzopardi appeared as parte civile.