Man on trial for attempted murder

Mr. Justice Lawrence Quintano is presiding over a trial by jury regarding the attempted murder of a man in Birkirkara in 2009, which followed a drinking session between two acquaintances, and ended up with one man offending the other's family and dog, and leading one to shoot the other, critically injuring him.

Nazzareno Briffa, 49 from Birkirkara is charged with the attempted murder of 53 year-old Pietru Borg, known as 'Il-Hasi' also of Birkirkara.

The shooting occurred at about 12.45am on July 22, 2009 outside Borg's farm on the Birkirkara bypass.

During the compilation of evidence before a Magistrate, Police Inspector Pullicino said that 15 minutes before the shooting, police were informed by an anonymous telephone caller that a man was roaming the area, with a shotgun in his hand, shouting "Where is he? I'll kill him".

The inspector said that when the police arrived on site close to the Birkirkara bypass, the shot had already been fired. They found Borg lying on the ground in a pool of blood, while Briffa still held the shotgun and seemed to be inebriated and angry.

The police told Briffa to put the gun away and was arrested, while the victim was taken to hospital in a critical condition, having been hit in the face, neck and lung, apart from other parts of the body.

Pullicino said the police found three spent cartridges nearby - the accused, before shooting the victim, had also shot at a billboard.

In fact, when the first two shots were fired, Borg was at his farm with friends Carmela Cini, Natalino Azzopardi and Charles Portelli.

These had told the inspector that while they were in the farmhouse they had heard a loud sound, similar to shots being fired, and Borg went out to see what was happening.

Police investigations had established that before the shooting, the two men had been drinking for a long time at Tony's Bar, where Briffa was insulted.

Among those confirming this was the barman, Charles Falzon, who to play down Borg's words had told Briffa that Borg was joking.

The accused confirmed with the inspector that he had been angered by Borg's behaviour and had followed him after Borg left the bar. But because he was drunk and angry, he could not remember more.

Inspector Pullicino said that when Borg's condition in hospital improved, he had told them that he had been joking with Briffa but could not remember details.