A young mother today gave a vivid, movie-like account of how she narrowly missed being burned alive outside her Zabbar home one evening earlier this month.
She recalled being threatened by shouts of “I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I won't give up before I kill one of you!”
Michelle Camilleri took the witness stand in the criminal proceedings against Alvin Pullicino, 26, employed in the film industry and Gavin Spagnol, 21, ELC employee. The two cousins are currently facing charges, as perpetrator and accomplice respectively, in relation to the attempted murder and attempted arson attack on July 12.
The court, presided over by magistrate Joseph Mifsud, heard of the longstanding family feud which existed between the two rival families both residing at Zabbar. Mr Pullicino had fathered the daughter of the victim's sister.
Tears streaming down her cheeks and visibly shaking as she struggled to control her sobbing, the woman recalled how on that fateful Wednesday, after a day’s work at the family shop in Xghajra, the couple together with their two sons, aged 3 and 10, were on their way to join some friends at the local playground.
They stopped outside their residence and the father went inside with the 3-year old. As she waited outside in the car, Gavin Spagnol drove past in his grey Peugeot, with Mr Pullicino. The latter allegedly carried a red can of petrol which he began to splash all over the victim’s car, while menacingly telling her “Are you afraid of me now?”
He eventually opened the car door and began to douse her in the flammable liquid, with the 10-year-old running out and fleeing for his life. “Why are you doing this to me? What have I done wrong?” the woman pleaded, as Mr Pullicino allegedly tried to flick lighter against her breasts – which luckily kept slipping from his wet fingers.
The woman fled to her front garden, followed by Mr Pullicino, who was armed with a chain attached to a padlock, and cornering her against a wall, pressing the chain to her neck. While recalling her harrowing experience, the victim had to stop several times to regain composure.
Her husband, Jean Paul Camilleri, witnessed the attack upon his wife as he rushed outside, alerted by the shouting. The soft-spoken man recalled Mr Pullicino’s repeated attempts to set fire to her, holding her up against the wall and shouting “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! I won't give up before I kill one of you!”
The court was told by the victim that Ms Camilleri helped her sister to raise her child, even covering the girl's First Holy Communion expenses. It heard of various incidents, including a car chase last February, and a brawl at the playground involving the two sisters. Relatives of the accused sat in a row closely observing the proceedings.
Just two weeks before the violent incident, the inspector had sent for Mr Pullicino and told him that she could no longer tolerate the repeated reports of family incidents
At one point, noticing the sniggers and head gestures of Mr Pullicino, the magistrate sternly warned him that he would not tolerate such behaviour in the courtroom.
Towards the end of the sitting, the court heard submissions on bail. Defence counsel Franco Debono pointed out that the main civilian witnesses had testified, and the court was asked to recognise Mr Spagnol’s lesser role in the aggression.
However, the prosecution was quick to point out that there had been numerous reports filed by the two rival families who shared the same hometown. Just two weeks before the violent incident, the inspector had sent for Mr Pullicino and told him that she could no longer tolerate the repeated reports of family incidents.
“Evidently Mr Pullicino could not care less even after being warned by the police” the prosecution remarked. It was also pointed out that the 10-year old boy was still traumatised, constantly asking his mother: “When (the aggressors) get out, will they come back for us?” The court denied bail to both the accused, with magistrate adding: “Hearing about such incidents makes people live in fear at home and at the workplace.”
Inspector Christabelle Chetcuti prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono, Marion Camilleri and Angie Muscat were defence counsel. Lawyer Veronique Dalli appeared parte civile.