“I am convinced that Marco Abdilla made and planted the bomb outside Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar’s residence and this is why he could give a detailed description of it,” claimed defence attorney Dr John Attard Montalto yesterday.
He said this while addressing the jurors after the prosecution declared it had no more evidence to be presented in the trial of Emanuel Camilleri. Dr Attard Montalto is defending Camilleri, 40 from Mqabba, who is accused of planting a bomb outside Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Cassar’s Zabbar residence at around 1.30am on 23 May 1994. He is standing trial for the attempted murder of AC Cassar and his family.
Camilleri also allegedly injured Abdilla, who has since died, by shooting at his leg on 22 March 1998. He is also being tried for trafficking heroin and cocaine between May 1994 and June 1998.
The bill of indictment drawn up against Camilleri alleged he was deeply involved in cocaine and heroin-trafficking and was losing money as a result of AC Cassar’s success in drug investigations – the motive behind planting the bomb.
In defence of his client, Dr Attard Montalto referred to Marco Abdilla as the “kingpin of the case”. He said Abdilla had been personally involved in every single crime of which Camilleri is being accused. “Although the man is dead, do not let him have the last laugh,” the defence attorney warned the jury.
Dr Attard Montalto claimed that everything is now being pinned on Camilleri, and proceeded to give a list of Abdilla’s convictions. “When he was just 14 years old, he was accused of beating up his mother,” he said.
The defence attorney admitted he had no proof that Abdilla was responsible for planting the bomb, but said he was convinced that this was the case.
On the first day of the trial, AC Cassar had taken the stand and said that Charlie Muscat, known as il-Pips, who had been found guilty of double homicide, had told him it was Camilleri who had planted the bomb outside his residence.
Dr John Attard Montalto put this claim in a doubtful light by questioning Muscat’s credibility. He said that Muscat and Camilleri had been good friends, but were not on good terms in 1994 because at the time Muscat suspected that Camilleri was seducing his wife.
“How can one consider the words of someone being investigated for a double murder?” asked Dr Attard Montalto.
He said Muscat had mentioned Camilleri’s name in connection with the bomb without being prompted, suggesting he used this as a distraction technique. “He tried to throw the police a red herring, especially considering that he had been high on cocaine for around two days and did not even remember shooting and killing two people,” said the defence attorney.
In his testimony given on Wednesday, Muscat said he could not recall what he had said to the police when he was questioned regarding the double murder. He admitted he had been high on drugs and was angry with Camilleri. “I might have said Camilleri was responsible for planting the bomb, but I do not remember,” he said.
“I cannot believe that the prosecution actually made this case against my client with only these two unreliable statements at its disposal,” continued Dr Attard Montalto.
Dr Attard Montalto and Dr Michael Sciriha are appearing for the accused while Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara is leading the prosecution. The court is being presided over by Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono.
The trial continues.