Man claims he found himself in drug chase by accident

A man charged with conspiring to traffic in 10 kilogrammes of cannabis claimed he was betrayed by a friend who asked him to run an errand but instead ended up in a car chase with the police.

Charles Camilleri, 41, said in court yesterday he knew nothing about the 20 or so blocks of cannabis found at his feet in the car after he and his friend were caught trying to flee a police raid on May 3, 2006. His friend, the driver, was Joseph Zerafa, 34.

Mr Zerafa and his wife Ċensina admitted to their involvement in the case before they were about to stand trial by jury on Monday. Yesterday, however, Mr Camilleri insisted he had no idea his friend was carrying drugs.

He stands charged with conspiring to traffic in cannabis worth over €58,250, trafficking in the drug, committing the crime within 100 metres of a place frequented by minors and being in possession of cannabis.

Mr Camilleri, a carpenter, said he had become acquainted with Mr Zerafa through work when he was contracted to install some wooden doors in his kitchen. They became friends and had remained so ever since. Mr Zerafa used to call him up whenever he needed some work done in his house.

On the day in question he had gone to Mr Zerafa's house to fix a leaking pipe. At one point, Mr Zerafa asked him to accompany him on an errand.

They were driving through Marsaxlokk when he saw lights flashing behind them. He told his friend to stop and see what the problem was but Mr Zerafa replied that he could not do so because he had between 20 and 22 blocks of cannabis in the car.

At that point, his friend sped off and turned into another street but they came face-to-face with some five or six policemen armed with revolvers.

Mr Zerafa reversed at high speed and left the scene "like a lightning bolt", Mr Camilleri testified.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono asked him why he had not left the car at that point but Mr Camilleri said Mr Zerafa had reversed so fast there was no time to get out.

He took off in the direction of Marsascala and on the way Mr Zerafa told him to get out of the car and take the drugs with him. Mr Camilleri refused and the two drove on until they were apprehended in Marsascala.

During the car chase, Mr Zerafa grabbed the brown paper bag which contained the drugs and it tore open, causing the blocks to fall all over the car with three of them landing in Mr Camilleri's lap.

Prosecuting lawyer Aaron Bugeja questioned Mr Camilleri over numerous SMS messages sent to his mobile phone by Mr Zerafa. But the witness denied knowing anything about their contents and even denied he had received them.

The case continues.

Lawyers Roberto Montalto and Marion Camilleri appeared for Mr Camilleri.