A shopkeeper at a San Ġwann convenience store tearfully told a court this afternoon how she stared down the barrel of a gun as two masked men walked into the shop and forced her to hand over money from the day's sales.
Pamela Sant was one of several witnesses who testified today in the case against Kane Grima, 20, Perrie Daniel Amarni Sciberras, 27, and Josef Galea, 19, who stand accused of carrying out a string of armed robberies from convenience stores and a lotto booth between January and this month. The total amount of money, cigarettes and mobile phone top-up cards which were stolen exceeds €7,500.
"There is no need to be afraid," Magistrate Joe Mifsud told the witness as she described how two men entered the shop she worked in at around 9.10pm on March 2.
Both men were wearing a balaclava, with the taller of the two brandishing a silver pistol while the other held a bag into which the loot was thrown.
The witnesses' successive testimonies revealed a similar pattern in the way the trio conducted the hold-ups.
Two of the accused would allegedly enter the targeted shops clad in balaclavas or in "black carnival masks" in the evening, as the shop employees were about to start the cash balancing process.
The taller of the two was always armed and would point the pistol at the shop employees, ordering them to hand over the money. The other robber would either silently stand guard by the door or hold a bag into which the stolen cash and items would be chucked.
The third man would be waiting nearby in a getaway car, described as a modern Fiat.
Taking the witness stand, Carmel Catania recounted how he was working at his daughter's Gżira convenience store on February 11 at 9.30pm when two masked men entered the shop.
"The taller of the two pointed a silver-grey pistol, which seemed to be a single-barrel model of low calibre. I was staring at it, trying to make out whether it was real or not."
He explained how he also stared into their eyes - which were the only uncovered part of their face - in a vain attempt at recognising them.
As the second one moved to leave the shop, I thought to myself: 'This is my chance', and I pushed him, throwing him off balance
After handing over the cash, the taller man sped off.
"As the second one moved to leave the shop, I thought to myself: 'This is my chance', and I pushed him, throwing him off balance," Mr Catania said, adding that he was not quite sure whether the robber was a young man or a young woman due to the person's slight frame and lack of strength.
Mr Catania then grabbed a six pack of water bottles and flung it at the thief, missing him. In the meantime, other passers-by had got wind of the situation and gave chase.
"The second guy was more of a nimble devil though. He sped to Freres Street while the other turned into Rue d'Argens."
During the course of the sitting, the defence lawyers tabled a request for the accused - who had been remanded in custody on March 18 - to be released on bail.
The court turned down the request, noting that it was its duty to ensure that a balance was reached between the protection of society and the accused's rights.
The court added that it was in the best interest of the three men to be placed under probation pending the course of the proceedings in order for them to be helped to overcome any problems they might have so that, once released, they could be reintegrated into society as model citizens.
Inspectors Jonathan Ransley and Carlos Cordina prosecuted. Lawyers Kathleen Grima, Franco Debono, Amadeus Cachia and Andrew Sciberras appeared for the accused.