A jury heard today how the victim of a Rabat shooting had a lucky escape, with the bullet fired by her husband stopping just short of her heart.
Carmel Cutajar, a 50-year-old former policeman is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of his estranged wife Maria outside the Point de Vue restaurant and guesthouse in Rabat.
He denies seriously injuring her, carrying an unlicensed firearm and committing a crime he was duty bound to prevent on September 26, 2012.
The accused had been married to Maria for 21 years, with whom he had two daughters. At the time of the incident, they were aged 14 and 20.
Testifying today, Accident and Emergency consultant Konrad Borg said the bullet was lodged in the space between the ribs and the heart of the victim's heart.
“The bullet penetrated muscle and the ribcage but stopped just outside the heart,” he said.
The bullet penetrated muscle and the ribcage but stopped just outside the heart
Surgeon Josef Mifsud told the court that he had certified Ms Cutajar of having suffered grievous injuries.
He explained that there was no exit wound and the bullet lodged close to the victim's heart.
Mr Mifsud explained that he had classified the victim as being in critical condition because of the chest penetration and the proximity to the heart.
The general manager of the Point de Vue restaurant, Mark Chandler, told jurors that he heard a commotion coming from the reception area on the day of the shooting.
He said he saw the victim crying and screaming out: “He shot me, he shot me. My husband.”
Mr Chandler described the victim as having “blood on her chest.”
Adrian Chandler, a barman at the restaurant, described how Ms Cutajar was more worried about her children than herself.
Mr Chandler explained how they carried the victim to a bed, called an ambulance and started to administer first aid.
He said the bullet entry wound was a “hair breadth” away from the victim's heart.
Rita Schembri, an ambulance nurse who went to the scene, described the victim's fear that her husband would go after her children.
Jurors were also show footage of the accused running after his wife with a gun outside the Saqqajja bar in Rabat. A man was seen casually pouring a beer as the pair ran by.
The victim is expected to testify tomorrow.
Judge Edwina Grima is presiding over the trial. Giannella Busuttil and Anthony Vella from the Attorney General's office are prosecuting. Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo are defending the accused.