Man, 74, denies attempted murder of police officers in Ta' Giorni shooting

Last updated 9.43am.

A man who was arrested after a shooting standoff with the police was taken to court on Sunday and accused of attempted murder.

John Agius, 74, from St Julian’s, was arrested on Friday following a 90-minute-long standoff with police during which Sergeant Johann Vella was shot several times and critically injured. Another officer, Omar Sharif, was slightly injured.

Agius, known locally as Johnny tal-għalqa, had reportedly arrived on the scene at Ta' Giorni with his brother and started a fire beneath workers who were working on a crane in a construction site.

The construction site adjoins a property belonging to the accused.

While his brother left the scene, John Agius went inside and allegedly fired several times at the police when they arrived.

Sharif was the first to be injured.

Vella was part of the Special Intervention Unit which stormed the property. He was hit in the face, neck and a leg and for a time had been in danger of dying. His condition improved later on Saturday.

Agius also pleaded not guilty to starting the fire and endangering and threatening the workers, injuring the two police officers, resisting the police, illegal discharge of a weapon and illegal arrest, having trapped police officers who initially entered the building. 

Sergeant Johann Vella was shot and critically injured on Friday.

During the arraignment, prosecuting inspector Stephen Gulia recounted how the event unfolded on Friday and how Agius had refused police orders to come out of the construction site, and instead fired at the police when they went in, trapping some of them. After 90 minutes of negotiating, he agreed to allow the trapped officers out. He surrendered after further negotiations.  

The inspector said the accused had four shotguns and two revolvers registered in his name.

No request for bail was made, and the court issued a protection order for police officers Omar Shari and Johann Vella, and construction site workers Nawaf Khasem, Mohammaed Kasem Ibrahim, Frederic Pierre Villa, and Cruise Tonna. The court warned that if Agius violates the protection order, he would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment and a €7,000 fine.   

The accused John Agius is driven out of the court building on Sunday. Photo Jonathan Borg.

The accused's brother, George, is expected to be arraigned separately. 

Sunday's arraignment was before Magistrate Giannella Caruana Busuttil.

The prosecution was conducted by Inspectors Joseph Mercieca, Stephen Gulia and Christian Xuereb, together with Attorney General lawyers Kaylee Bonett and Joseph Camilleri Azarov.

The accused was represented by lawyer Thomas Barbara Sant. Lawyers Herman Mula and Franco Debono  appeared as parte civile for Johann Vella. Lawyers Anthea Zammit and Paul Camilleri appeared as parte civile for Omar Sharif.