Father of sergeant at murder site did business with father-in-law of suspect

A police sergeant who was among the first on the scene of a murder in Qormi 18 years ago told a trial-by-jury on Wednesday that his father had some business dealings with the father-in-law of the murder suspect. 

Andrew St John revealed in court that his father knew Joe Gaffarena through business. Gaffarena is the father-in-law of the accused Stephen Caruana, who is facing a trial-by-jury for murdering his wife Romina's lover, Neville Baldacchino.

He denies the charges.

The murder took place on December 19 in the early hours of the morning on Triq id-Drama in Qormi.

Caruana had told investigators he had heard a noise coming from upstairs, followed by some footsteps, and then went up to find a man on the terrace with something in his hand. Caruana shot the man dead.

St John was among the first to arrive at the murder scene along with former police inspector Daniel Zammit.

Zammit and his relatives also had business relations with Gaffarena, and he was the subject of an inquiry that found the former inspector did not behave ethically and in line with the procedures which regulated his position during the murder investigation of Baldacchino, Judge Michael Mallia had concluded in an inquiry.

On Wednesday, the court asked St John whether there was some familiarity with Gaffarena, after he referred to him as “is-Sur Joe”, to which the witness, for the first time, revealed that his father had some business dealings with Gaffarena.

During his testimony, the sergeant also said he knew that the name of the house was “CarmJoe” because the owners were Carmen and Joe.

Asked whether he informed his superiors, St John said he had informed Zammit.

Father of murdered man bumps into inspector in Qormi

On Wednesday, the trial also heard that Baldacchino's father had stopped a police inspector to ask “whether something had happened” minutes before he was informed that his son had been shot dead.

This emerged from the testimony of police inspector Tony Cachia, who at the time was responsible for Żebbuġ, but would also assist in the Qormi district.

Cachia explained he went to the crime scene due to the magisterial inquiry led by then magistrate Antonio Mizzi, after being informed that a murder had taken place on Triq id-Drama.

When he got there, he found the suspect, Stephen Caruana and his wife, Romina Caruana, next to a female police officer.

Cachia explained that downstairs, opposite the staircase, there was a shotgun and a box of cartridges on top. He went upstairs, and after passing through a sort of washroom, he found the victim, Neville Baldacchino, in a pool of blood.

He then had to return to the police station to figure out who Baldacchino’s relatives.

When he returned to Qormi and was on his way to the crime scene, an elderly man stopped him and asked: “did something happen here?”

The inspector replied that he could not answer any questions. He then went to the victim’s residence, which was close to the crime scene. After the police knocked, they heard a commotion, and the elderly man emerged and identified himself as Pawlu Baldacchino – Neville’s father.

The victim’s wife was also present, and the inspector said she was in a state of panic and was crying.

Madam Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera is presiding over the trial.

AG lawyers Francesco Refalo and Shelby Aquilina prosecuted.

Lawyers Giannella De Marco and Charles Mercieca assisted the accused.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo appeared for the victim's relatives.