Court splits botched Valletta hold-up case in two

Magistrate Carol Peralta today decided that the case of Jason Galea and Michael Zahra, accused of carrying out a failed hold-up on a jewellery in Valletta, in 2010, should be split in two separate cases.

The court said the case was being separated because while Zahra had admitted his involvement, Galea was still pleading his innocence.

Jason Galea had pleaded not guilty to the attempted robbery and of holding Frank Zampa against his will, threatening to kill him, seriously injuring him, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, causing damage to Zampa's property and relapsing.

The man, currently accused with the murder of the notorious 'Imniehru' and his son, was released on bail for €2,000 and a personal guarantee of €3,000. Another man, Michael Zahra had admitted his involvement, while a third man, Marcus John Calleja was imprisoned for three years after admitting his involvement.

The two men were arraigned in 2011 in connection with the botched hold-up on a Valletta jeweller's a year earlier. Michael Zahra, 39, of Valletta and Jason Galea, 37, of Birzebbugia had originally pleaded not guilty to trying to steal from Frank Zampa Jewellery in St Lucia Street on 18 September 2010, however Zahra has since admitted his involvement.

They were also charged with holding 79-year-old Francesco Zampa against his will, seriously injuring him, being in illegal possession of a firearm and relapsing.

The Valletta jeweller had resisted the two men and a bullet grazed his cheek as a revolver went off at close range during a scuffle. He then received hospital treatment.
Zampa was reported to have managed to grab the assailant's weapon. The robbers escaped towards Victoria Gate, where a getaway car was waiting.

Marcus John Calleja, 37, of Balzan, pleaded guilty to his involvement in the attempted hold-up and was jailed for three-years.