Accused's 'confession' testimony read out to jurors

The man standing trial for murder had unexpectedly testified before the Magistrates' Court that he had shot Jason Azzopardi, whom he described as a "monster", because he had no choice, jurors heard yesterday.

Inspector Anglu Caruana yesterday told jurors that when Melchior Spiteri was arrested and questioned in October 2001, he chose not to answer, as was his right.

But, the witness said, one day in February 2002, during the compilation of evidence against him, Spiteri testified at length and gave an account of the events that led him to "sacrifice" himself and kill Azzopardi.

The evidence given by Spiteri in the Magistrates' Court was yesterday read out to jurors in his trial that is presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.

Spiteri, 28, of Cospicua is pleading not guilty to the murder of Azzopardi, known as Is-Sufu, in Cospicua, on October 22, 2001.

Spiteri had testified that his mother had borrowed money from Azzopardi at high interest rates. During the years he was in prison he was unaware of the trouble between his family and Azzopardi.

When he left prison he started to realise the pressure his mother was under and went to speak to Azzopardi in an attempt to relieve her of the debt. Spiteri had said Azzopardi had asked him to sell drugs on his behalf, assist him in theft and to prostitute a woman in return. However, Spiteri said he did not accept because he was done with the criminal way of life.

After further negotiations, Azzopardi had agreed to stop charging Spiteri's mother interest for a week. But soon afterwards Spiteri found out that Azzopardi had threatened and even beaten his mother. So he told Azzopardi that as long as he was around he would not get another cent from them.

Spiteri had told the Magistrates' Court that threats addressed to him and his parents had ensued. These included anonymous phone calls threatening to murder Spiteri. At one point, Spiteri had testified, he got so worried he just had to get rid of Azzopardi.

"I decided to make the sacrifice myself... On Monday morning, I hid among the shrubbery and when I heard the alarm of Jason's car go off, I came out to trace him. I was surprised as I though I would find Jason alone but there were two people, that is Jason and another person. All of a sudden I could not recognise Jason and I rolled up the tights (he wore over his head).

"I know that the moment I rolled up the tights there was a 99 per cent chance I would end up in prison. But there was no turning back... I realised that if I backed out I would be putting my life and that of my parents in a bigger danger.

"When he was standing with his back to me I shot him. I moved closer to ensure Joseph Zaffarese (who was with Azzopardi at the time) moved away and shot him again to make sure he died.

"I did not do this out of my own choice as I did not have another option," Spiteri had said in the testimony.

A woman, whose name can not be published by court order, testified that she had borrowed money from Azzopardi but although she made all the payments he kept wanting more and brought her to a "state of misery".

Georgina Farrugia was called to the witness stand for the second time after having spent the night under arrest.

Trembling as she testified, Farrugia insisted she did not see Spiteri on the scene of the crime adding that she said she had seen him when she testified before the inquiring magistrate because Azzopardi's father, Mario, told her to.

Mario Azzopardi was then called to testify in confrontation and denied the allegations made by Farrugia.

Mr Justice Galea Debono ordered that Farrugia be held under arrest for the second time as he had reason to believe she was not saying the truth.

The judge also ordered the arrest of 16-year-old Redent Muscat on the same grounds.

Muscat yesterday said he was trapping when he saw a hooded man run past but did not recognise him. However, in a previous testimony he had said he recognised the man to be Spiteri and saw him run into a pit and then emerge wearing different clothing.

The trial continues this morning.

Senior counsel to the Republic Mark Said is prosecuting while Dr Tonio Azzopardi is appearing for Spiteri.