Joseph Gafa claimed the accused, Saviour Bugeja, used to insult as well as swear at him and once threatened to kill him and his family.

Saviour Bugeja, 47, from Zejtun, is charged with setting fire to the front door of Joseph Gafa’s house in Triq il-Kajjikk in Marsaxlokk on 28 March 2000. Mr Gafa was the defendant’s boss at the Malta Drydocks and the two were not on good terms.

Mr Bugeja is also charged with endangering the lives of Mr Gafa’s neighbours who were at home when the fire started. He is also charged with damaging Mr Gafa’s property.

According to the bill of indictment, the police immediately suspected Mr Bugeja. When they went to his house, they found him in his garage wearing slippers that smelt of petrol. The police also found that the engine of the defendant’s car was still hot, indicating it had been used some time earlier.

Yesterday Mr Gafa told the court that the accused used to enter his office and insult him. Under cross examination by the defence, the witness said the accused had once threatened to kill him and his family.

Quizzed by the defence as to why he never mentioned this detail in court before, he said that when he tried to testify to that effect in the magistrates’ court, he was not allowed to do so.

Dr Giannella Caruana Curran asked how this could be so, especially in light of the fact that the witness had a parte civile lawyer with him. “Every time I came close to mentioning something to that effect, the court would cut me off and tell me it had nothing to do with the case in question.”

Mr Gafa told the court that the damages he incurred were mainly due to the burning of the front door and soot staining inside the house. The case, which is being heard by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono,continues.

Dr Giannella Caruana Curran and Dr Manuel Mallia appeared for the defendant.