Murder victim's brother accused of attempted murder

Ronnie Azzopardi, 31 of Cospicua, appeared in court yesterday for the attempted murder of the brother of a man who himself stands charged with the murder of Azzopardi's brother.

Azzopardi is the brother of Jason Azzopardi, who was murdered in October 2001, and for which Melchior Spiteri was arraigned on a murder count on October 24, 2001.

Yesterday, Ronnie Azzopardi pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Giovanni Spiteri, Melchior's brother, by firing a gun in his direction on January 6 in the early hours of the morning.

The shooting, by a motorcyclist, occurred near the waste recycling plant in Marsascala where Giovanni Spiteri was driving a car.

Azzopardi also pleaded not guilty to slightly injuring Giovanni Spiteri, causing over Lm50 damage to his car, the possession of a firearm at the time of the commission of the crime, keeping and carrying the firearm and ammunition without a licence and failing to inform the relevant authorities about its possession.

He also pleaded not guilty to driving a motorcycle without a registration number, without a road licence and without an insurance cover and relapsing.

At the end of yesterday's sitting, Ronnie Azzopardi's lawyer, Dr Joseph Giglio, asked Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera to ensure the protection of his client and his family.

He explained that his client and his family were being threatened by Spiteri's family and that a few days earlier his client was shot at.

Magistrate Scerri Herrera ordered the director of prisons to ensure that neither Melchior Spiteri nor any members of his family would approach Azzopardi while he was held in custody at the Corradino Correctional Facility.

She also ordered the police commissioner to ensure the safety of Azzopardi's family.

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Anthony Cassar and Carmelo Magri prosecuted.