Terence William Zammit, 29 is being accused of shooting Mario Farrugia in the mouth in Hamrun on 19 October 2000.

The prosecution claimed that when Mr Farrugia did not die after being shot, the accused tried to shoot him again but failed because the victim defended himself. A group of people gathered around them as they were fighting.

Prosecuting officer Mark Said told the court that Zammit intended to kill Mario Farrugia over money.

The prosecution claimed the accused owed Mr Farrugia money and believed the only way out of debt was to kill him.

Terence Zammit is being accused of attempted murder and possessing an unlicenced firearm.

The first witness in the trial was Mario Farrugia, the victim. He said the accused had phoned him on the day of the incident and they had arranged to meet outside Mr Farrugia’s home in Hamrun.

When he saw Zammit had a gun in his hand, he asked him, “what happened?”, to which he answered, “nothing.” They started fighting and ended up on the ground, Mr Farrugia said.

The next thing he remembered was blood coming out of his mouth and the accused kicking him in the head.

Mr Farrugia said he started calling out to his wife for help and some other people also came to assist him until the ambulance arrived.

The witness said he had considered Zammit a friend and had even lent him Lm2,000. He said that over six years he had lent Zammit more money. Mr Farrugia said he still considers Zammit a friend, despite the fact that he shot him.

The witness continued by telling the court that Zammit had met him on 19 October with the intention of borrowing Lm17,000. “I never had any problem with him and I never saw him with any weapons before that day,” Mr Farrugia said.

When asked about his previous testimony in front of the magistrates’ court, the victim claimed he did not remember saying Zammit pointed a gun at him and shot him.

Presiding judge Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono reminded him he was under oath. After a few minutes’ break, the witness returned to the courtroom in tears, saying he did not want to be arrested.

Mario Farrugia went on to confirm his previous testimony, saying Terence Zammit had indeed shot him.

Upon questioning by defence attorneys Dr Manwel Mallia and Dr Gianella Caruana Curran, Mr Farrugia said the accused always paid back the money he borrowed. He even used to give him a cheque as a guarantee.

In fact, after the incident, Mr Farrugia cashed the cheque the accused had given him. The witness once again claimed he and the accused remained friends after the incident. After the incident, Zammit hugged Mr Farrugia and even accompanied him in the ambulance to hospital. The victim said Zammit had told him, “Mario, the incident did not happen as you think.”

The trial is due to continue this morning when more witnesses will be brought to the stand.