The three Rapid Intervention Unit police officers who arrested the young Albanian who stands charged with their attempted murder today described to the court the moments leading to his arrest.
On being arrested, 22-year-old Albanian Daniel Muka had allegedly pointed a gun at the officers during a scuffle, and pulled the trigger but no shots were fired.
The accused. one of two Albanians arrested on suspicion of being involved in the Sliema jewellery store robbery on 5 October, is also charged with violently resisting arrest, threatening the officers, being in possession of cocaine and being in possession of a firearm.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and is remanded in custody.
Sergeant Cristopher Brincat testified that he was in his car with his partner, when they received a request for assistance by an RIU constable down the road from Baystreet.
He and his partner pulled up and the constable identified a man sitting on the outside of a bar with his back to the wall as being a person wanted in connection with the theft. He said he parked the car in front of the establishment and his partner got out. Together with his partner, he walked towards the man in question.
PS Brincat noted that the accused, who was drinking, became aggressive when the constables (his partner and the other officer) neared. He said that he saw the accused head-butt one of the officers, and also put his hand behind his back, pull out a gun, and pull the trigger, trying to fire on both constables..
He said that before the accused pulled out the gun, he had already exited the vehicle and was on his way to the accused. He yelled “gun”.
The sergeant reached the scuffle and all four fell to the ground. He said the accused kept pointing the gun at them while they were trying to pin him, and pulling the trigger. The accused also tried to take something out of his pocket. One of the constables managed to pull out a taser and tased the accused, after which he finally let go of the gun.
Later, the sergeant said he asked the accused why he had a weapon and the latter said it was because he knew the police were looking for him and he “wanted to end this”.
Later, when searched at the police headquarters, they found bullets in his pocket.
He said his two colleagues suffered slight injuries in the scuffle, and the accused had blood on his ear.
The two constables also testified.
Constable Adrian Zahra said that he was patrolling near Baystreet, and noted the man, whom he recognised as a wanted person, sitting down. He said that while he and the constable who came as backup approached the accused, he stood up and became aggressive.
The two officers tried to grab his hands, however he struggled.
PC Zahra said he heard the gun trigger being pulled multiple times and the gun was pointed directly at the officers.
The accused’s friend, however, never resisted, he said.
The third officer, Constable Joseph Camilleri was the officer who tased the accused when on the floor.
He mentioned that the accused, during the initial struggle when standing, had pointed the gun at their heads. He said that after the commotion, he had picked up the gun, and gave it to the inspector who arrived minutes later.
Cross examined, PC Camilleri said he saw the accused head-butt him and someone else. He said that he had training with guns but was unable to say if the gun used by the accused was a revolver or a pistol, and was unable to describe the difference between the two.
Magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace presided the sitting. Inspector Mark Mercieca and Carlos Cordina prosecuted while lawyers Noel Bianco and Jason Grima appearing for the accused.
The case continues on October 30.