Accused in 'Il-Bona' murder case claims he was shot at

Allan Galea, 31, a monti hawker from Marsaxlokk, was this afternoon accused of the fatal stabbing of Anthony Borg, known as il-Bona, last Sunday. He was also accused of the unlawful possession of a knife.

Borg was killed in Marsaxlokk square following an argument during which gunshots were also heard.

Galea appeared before Magistrate Miriam Hayman and pleaded not guilty. In making his not guilty plea, he also added that he had been shot at.

Defence lawyers Joe Giglio and Gianella Caruana Curran and Steve Tonna Lowell asked for the victim's body to be swabbed for gunshot residue and for the injuries of the accused to be examined and recorded.

They also said that CCTV footage of the nearby Bank of Valletta branch should be preserved, as should recordings from the mobile phone providers since, they said, il-bona had called the accused and his girlfriend a number of times.

The court upheld the requests.

Mr Galea was remanded in custody and the court said that only his father, mother and sister could have access to him.

The accused, who had bloodshot eyes and appeared to have injuries to part of his head, was escorted by three policemen in and out of the court while another three policemen waited outside.