Ibrahim Ramandan Ghamber Shnishah, 27, who is also Libyan, is being accused of complicity in a theft that resulted in the murder of Alfie Rizzo, who was found lying in a pool of blood, stabbed to death, in his hair salon on 5 February 1998.

The bill of indictment alleged that on 4 February 1998, Shnishah made an arrangement with Aimen Said Gial El-Baden to rob Mr Rizzo and kill him. The accused allegedly was the look-out as El-Baden stabbed Mr Rizzo to death and stole some money, Lm30.

El-Baden stood trial in April 2002 and he is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence having been found guilty of the murder of Mr Rizzo. He was spared a life sentence because he was a minor at the time of the crime.

At around 9.30pm on the night of the murder, Shnishah introduced El-Baden to Mr Rizzo and they all went to the victim’s hair salon, where El-Baden was to have sexual relations with Mr Rizzo.

In accordance with the plan he had hatched with Shnishah, El-Baden went on to stab Mr Rizzo several times, using a knife the accused had given him. After killing him, El-Baden stole Lm30 and other items from the victim and fled the scene with Shnishah, who was waiting for him outside.

Shnishah is also accused of being in possession of an un-licensed knife. He faces life imprisonment for complicity in Mr Rizzo’s murder.

Over the course of the police investigation, the accused fervently denied knowing Mr Rizzo. In a statement, Shnishah said his friend El-Baden was lying when he claimed he had urged him to rob and kill Mr Rizzo. The accused said he only knew the victim by sight and knew he frequented Arab men in Gzira.

Inspector Carmelo Magri read the accused’s statement out in court during his testimony yesterday. He explained that another man, Ahmed Shafi, had also declared Shnishah to be the accomplice in Mr Rizzo’s murder.

Shafi said: “I know who killed Alfie and I know who helped,” and he indicated the accused, inspector Magri said. When confronted with this information, Shnishah at first even denied knowing these other Libyan men, he continued.

The accused later confirmed that El-Baden and Shafi were his friends, “So why would they make up lies about him,”

questioned prosecuting officer Dr Anthony Barbara.

Inspector Magri said El-Baden and Shafi were arrested on 14 February 1998, while Shnishah was arrested a day later after the first two gave information regarding the murder.

“What Shafi has to say is enough to declare Shnishah guilty, that is if the jury chooses to believe him,” said Dr Barbara during the opening address. The victim was well known and people knew he was wealthy and had certain sexual tendencies, he continued.

“The prosecution believes Shnishah to be the mastermind behind this murder. He hatched the plan and used El-Baden to carry it out. The actual murderer was simply the bait,” said Dr Barbara.

Inspector Magri also said that members of the Armed Forces of Malta had retrieved items from the seabed in Gzira which belonged to the victim and El-Baden.

Mr Rizzo’s mobile phone, his keys and car alarm were brought up from the seabed, as were his trousers. The inspector said El-Baden’s T-shirt was also recovered with these items, since they were wrapped in it.

The witness said that El-Baden’s bloodstained jeans were found at the scene of the crime, as he had taken the victim’s clean trousers. He explained that after Mr Rizzo was found face up, lying in a pool of his own blood, the police were looking for Arab men, because it was known that the victim frequented with these people.

Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar also took the stand at yesterday’s hearing and explained that he had spoken to Anthony Rizzo, a taxi driver who had driven the accused, El-Baden, and Shafi to Naxxar and back to The Strand on the night of the murder. The driver said he remembered the men because he had given them a Lm2 note that had expired as part of the change.

AC Cassar also noted that El-Baden had a wound on his left ring finger that was certified to be a bite mark.

Martin Bajada took the stand later in the sitting and confirmed that this bite mark was compatible with the cast taken of the victim’s teeth. Mr Bajada, who took the digital scans of the bite marks found on the victim and El Baden, said comparative analysis showed that Mr Rizzo also had a self-inflicted bite above his right elbow.

Ray Azzopardi, Sandro Kitcher, Paul Attard and Anthony Bayliss had discovered Mr Rizzo’s body. They had gone to look for him that night after his wife had called the office of Super One, where they all worked, because he had not gone home yet and it was late.

Mr Azzopardi explained that on arriving at the salon, they noticed that Mr Rizzo’s Mercedes was outside and the door was ajar. They walked in and the witness explained that he stumbled on Mr Rizzo’s body which was lying on the floor towards the back of the shop.

“I tried to move him, to see if he had fainted. I heard a moan, but the body was cold,” Mr Azzopardi said. He said he could not see what had happened to Mr Rizzo because there was only a low light.

The trial continues today.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono is presiding over the court. Dr Joe Brincat is appearing for Shnishah while Assistant Attorney General Dr Anthony Barbara is leading the prosecution. Dr Manuel Mallia is appearing for Mr Rizzo’s family.