Dominic Bonnici, 44, pleaded guilty to gagging, and eventually killing, Gerald and Josephine Grima, who were 79 and 64 years old, respectively. Bonnici, together with someone else, alleged to be Brian Vella who is being charged separately with the same crimes, attacked the couple as they were going back home, and bound and gagged them with brown tape. This eventually led to their death.

The two men intended to rob the couple and the bill of indictment lays down that they had bound and gagged them to commit the theft without any disturbance. The theft was, in fact, committed because Bonnici also admitted stealing Lm200 worth of items from the victims’ house.

The victims’ neighbour, 34-year-old Brian Vella, is also being charged with the double murder and Bonnici has promised to testify when Vella’s case goes to trial.

This was a pivotal point made during defence attorney Joe Giglio’s submissions on punishment. He told the court, presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono, that Bonnici had pleaded guilty to the charges and showed a deep sense of remorse. “It was a tragedy with fatal consequences that make you feel damned,” Dr Giglio said, quoting his client. “After asking God’s forgiveness I am ready to receive the earthly punishment I deserve”, Dr Giglio continued, again quoting his client.

Bonnici gave the police his full cooperation, which was instrumental in their investigation of the case, said Dr Giglio. Several witnesses were called to the stand by the defence to show why Bonnici does not deserve life imprisonment but should be given a prison term between 18 and 30 years. Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Superintendent Pierre Calleja and Fr Raniero Zammit all testified and told the court all they knew about the way Bonnici behaved during his admission.

Both the commissioner and the superintendent explained how Bonnici broke down in tears while being interrogated and admitted the murders. The remorse he showed seemed genuine and sincere, they both said. Bonnici asked to confess and was taken to the Floriana Capuchin convent.

Mr Rizzo said that Bonnici told the whole story, from before the murder took place right up till the events that had brought him to the police depot. “Bonnici cooperated fully,” he continued. The accused wanted the truth to be told and Mr Rizzo said that Bonnici even tried to convince Brian Vella, who is also being charged with the murders, to tell the truth and admit the crime.

Superintendent Calleja said Bonnici’s attorney, Dr Giglio, wrote a letter to the police on his client’s behalf, claiming he was ready to testify against Vella, his alleged accomplice, at any stage of the criminal proceedings. In his testimony, Mr Calleja confirmed that Bonnici held true to his promise and testified against Vella during the compilation of evidence in the magistrates’ court.

Both witnesses pointed out that Bonnici’s remorse seemed genuine. “It was almost moving”, said Mr Rizzo, especially when Bonnici had to face his family and tell them of the incident.

When Bonnici had asked to confess, he had been taken to the Police chaplain, Fr Raniero Zammit. The priest could not be questioned on what he was told during the confession, but he corroborated the comments made by the commissioner and superintendent on the sincerity of Bonnici’s remorse. The priest told the court that Bonnici had asked him to console his family after they were told he had admitted murdering the elderly couple.

The defence told the court that Bonnici could not be considered a menace to society because aside from this gruesome, tragic crime, Bonnici’s record was relatively clean. Dr Giglio stressed that Bonnici’s admission and cooperation with police was vital in the investigation and once again explained that after several sleepless nights, his client urged Brian Vella to follow his example and confess.

Presiding judge Joseph Galea Debono pointed out that if Bonnici was really so regretful he should have approached the police earlier and maybe one of the two lives lost could have been saved. The Grimas’ bodies were discovered on 17 February, seven days after the attack. This gave Bonnici a seven-day window to report the incident to police, Mr Justice Galea Debono noted. Had he approached police during this period, one of the Grimas might have been saved, he said.

Prosecuting officer Anthony Barbara stressed the gravity of the crime committed by Bonnici but agreed with the defence that, upon considering the accused’s cooperation and early guilty plea, the court may give him to 18 to 30 years in prison instead of automatically sentencing him to life imprisonment.

The case was deferred to tomorrow when the court is due to pass judgement.