Trial starts over 2019 Marsascala attempted murder
The case involves two men who have known each other since childhood
A man has started facing a trial by jury over the attempted murder of another man he had known since childhood, after allegedly firing five shots at him in Marsascala just over six years ago.
Madame Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera is presiding over the trial of Carl Caruana, 29, who has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Christian Muscat and to the illegal possession of a firearm in Marsascala on November 20, 2019.
According to the bill of indictment, which outlines the prosecution’s case, Caruana and Muscat had known each other since childhood.
On the day of the incident, they argued on Facebook Messenger and agreed to meet at Triq il-Qaliet, Marsascala, at around 10:30 am.
When they arrived at the location in their respective cars, Caruana indicated for Muscat to approach him. Muscat got out of his car and walked towards the passenger side of Caruana’s vehicle, where another man was seated.
He looked inside and, addressing Caruana, told him to calm down so that the situation would not escalate. Caruana then reversed his car and, thinking he might be driven into, Muscat ran towards the front porch of a nearby home and grabbed a stone.
At that point, Caruana allegedly pointed a gun out of the window and fired five shots at Muscat with the intent to hit him. Muscat ducked and was not injured.
Caruana then drove away from the scene and later phoned the Żabbar police station to identify himself as the man involved in an incident with Muscat.
On Tuesday morning, following the selection of the nine jurors and three supplementary jurors, the judge started addressing them – to explain the way forward - before the prosecution starts calling witnesses to testify.
Attorney General lawyers Kaylie Bonett and Dejan Darmanin are prosecuting, alongside police inspector Eman Hayman. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi, Ishmael Psaila and Amadeus Cachia are representing the accused.