A jury today heard how the man accused of murdering Anthony Borg – known as Il-Bona – told police he regretted what happened to the victim.

Allan Galea, 36 from Luqa is accused of murdering Mr Borg on 21 February 2010.

In a recording of the statement given to the police by Mr Galea a day after the murder, the accused told police that the incident was out of character and he did not mean for it to happen.

Mr Borg was stabbed to death in the Marsaxlokk square in front of his family and girlfriend.

Prosecutor Lara Lonfranco told jurors that Mr Borg was stabbed by the accused twice, once in the back and again in the chest when he was lying injured on the ground.

The second stab wound proved to be fatal, resulting in massive blood loss, Dr Lanfranco said.

Shortly before the stabbing Mr Borg was heard by his family members having an argument over the telephone with a man, who was later identified as the accused.

Mr Borg’s family asked him what had happened, and saw Mr Galea walking in the direction of the PN club in Marsaxlokk square shortly after.

Mr Galea was seen walking with a knife, and challenged Mr Borg to a fight.

On seeing Mr Galea, Mr Borg ran to his car which was parked nearby and got out a pistol, firing two warning shots in the air.

Dr Lanfranco said Mr Borg then dropped the pistol and the two men came face to face.

At this point Mr Borg stumbled and was stabbed in the back by Mr Galea.

The wounded Mr Borg fell to the ground on his back, where he was stabbed fatally in the chest.

Mr Borg’s family grappled with Mr Galea, but the accused managed to get away from them, only to be apprehended by the police shortly after.

He was taken to the police depot for interrogation.

Mr Galea told Inspector Chris Pullicino that he was initially going to take a harpoon for his confrontation with Mr Borg, but instead opted for a kitchen knife so as not to alarm his girlfriend.

He initially admitted threatening to “cut up” Mr Borg during their argument over the phone, but backtracked in a statement given to police the day after the murder.

Mr Galea told police that he did not go to meet Mr Borg looking for a fight, and only took a knife with him as a precaution because he knew “what kind of people” Mr Borg and his family were.

The accused said in his statement he hid behind a car when the two shots were fired by Mr Borg, then “pushed” the victim away with the knife he had, then hit him again in the back.

Mr Galea said he was pushed by Mr Borg during their confrontation in the square, and he then stabbed the victim in the back.

Asked by the police about an argument the two had at the Marsaxlokk PN club a few weeks before the incident, Mr Galea played it down saying that they were just joking around.

Mr Galea is being represented by defence lawyers Giannella Caruana Curran, Stephen Tonna Lowell and Joe Giglio.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Matthew Brincat are appearing parte civile. 

Lawyers Lara Lanfranco and Kristina Debattista are prosecuting.

Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi is presiding over the case.