Blood was oozing out from an injury hole just below the left shoulder of murder victim Sylvester Farrugia when a crime scene doctor turned his body over, a police inspector told a court today. 

Inspector Elliot Magro was testifying in the case against Deniro Magri, 27, who is charged with murdering the 25-year-old Mr Farrugia on February 12 in Simpson street, Marsa. 

An inspector told a court he remembered seeing a distinctive 'Sylvester' tattoo on Mr Farrugia's body.An inspector told a court he remembered seeing a distinctive 'Sylvester' tattoo on Mr Farrugia's body.

The witness told the court how he found Mr Farrugia lying face up on the ground beside a Toyota Starlet with a shattered windscreen and rear window. The murder victim was missing a shoe, which investigators found behind the driver's seat in the Toyota.

When a doctor turned Mr Farrugia over to face the ground, blood seeped out of what looked like a hole and a tattoo saying 'Sylvester' was clearly visible, the inspector told a court. 

Mr Magri is pleading not guilty to the murder, with his lawyers arguing that he acted in self-defence and opened fire after unknown people tried to set his house door on fire.

Inspector Magro told the court that he had been informed by fellow police inspector Keith Arnaud of reports that a house close by, on Triq Għabex, had a distinct smell of petrol

The inspector told the court that having confirmed the petrol odour, he then also noticed some shattered glass just a few metres away. Mr Magri lived in the Triq Għabex house. 

Prosecutors today also presented various items as evidence, including samples of glass, a pair of black boxer shorts and cable ties used to affix the number plate - which turned out to be stolen - to the Toyota. 

The next hearing is scheduled for September 18. 

Inspector Arnaud is leading the prosecution, with lawyers Marion Camilleri, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Giannella De Marco appearing for Mr Magri. 

 

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