The weapon used in a 2009 hold-up was not checked for fingerprints, a jury heard this afternoon.
This detail came out as Police Inspector Keith Arnaud continued being cross examined in the trial by jury of Matthew Mizzi.
Mr Mizzi, 29, of Cospicua stands charged with being an accomplice in an attempted murder carried out by Jonathan Coleiro, being in possession of a firearm, driving the car allegedly used in the armed robbery without a licence and filing a false police report.
The incident happened on April 13, 2009.
Charles Zammit, owner of Seven Mobiles in Psaila Street, Birkirkara, was held at gunpoint and forced into a room at the back of the shop while Mr Coleiro made off with three mobile phones and a laptop. The owner gave chase, was shot at multiple times and was pierced by a bullet once in his left hand. The bullet exited his hand and lodged itself in his side.
Led by prosecuting lawyers Elaine Mercieca and Ann Marie Cutajar from the Attorney General’s office, Insp. Arnaud yesterday told the jury Mr Coleiro had claimed he owed Mr Mizzi €200 and that it was Mr Mizzi who supplied him with the old, snubnosed revolver.
When he was being cross examined by defence lawyer Michael Sciriha this afternoon, Insp Arnaud said the weapon had not been checked for fingerprints.
Inspector Arnaud denied that Mr Coleiro had been manhandled in his presence but said police officers were cautious since the man was possibly armed and “they might have been a bit rough with him”.
He also noted that, instead of holding the usual identity parade, investigators took photos of a number of people, including Mr Coleiro, to the hospital, where the victim was being treated.
Meanwhile, former policeman Chris Abela, who then served in the CID, was quizzed about the day when Mr Coleiro led the police to the hidden weapon. He confirmed that Mr Coleiro claimed he was given the gun by the accused, and that he owed Mr Mizzi money.
Cross-examined, the former policeman confirmed that when a search was conducted in Mr Mizzi’s house, the police did not find anything related to the case.
The lawyer asked if it was true the police had not searched the first location where Mr Coleiro had hidden the weapon, before moving it to another location.
Mr Abela said he could not remember. He also could not remember if Mr Mizzi was present when the police searched his house.
Court-appointed expert Valerio Schembri said that from what he was told about the case by the victim, he could not say whether Mr Coleiro knew how to handle weapons correctly or not.
Another officer to take the witness stand, Denise Vella, who, on the day of the incident was serving at the Msida Police Station, said that Mr Mizzi looked like he had been through a trauma. She offered him a cup of coffee when she saw he was agitated and he told her he wanted to throw up.