The heirs of a man shot dead following an argument outside a restaurant in Marsascala in January 1990 were yesterday awarded nearly Lm30,000 in damages by a Civil Court.

Mr Justice Raymond Pace handed down his judgement in the case filed by the heirs of Stephen Ellul Bonici against Salvatore Farrugia.

The court heard the heirs of Mr Ellul Bonici saying that Mr Farrugia had killed Mr Ellul Bonici on the night between 11 and 12 January 1990 outside the Mes Amis Restaurant in Marsascala. The court was told that Mr Ellul Bonnici and Mr Farrugia’s children Carmen and Doris had been encountering difficulties in the running of the said restaurant.

On the day in question, Mr Ellul Bonici had an argument with someone inside the restaurant and was seen leaving in a hurry. Eye witnesses saw Mr Farrugia following him outside and they saw Mr Ellul Bonici entering his car and try to drive off. However, these eye witnesses said Mr Farrugia shot Mr Ellul Bonici twice.

Mr Justice Pace ruled that Mr Farrugia was fully responsible for Mr Ellul Bonici’s death and added that Mr Farrugia had failed to prove his theory that Mr Ellul Bonici had tried shooting him some time before. On the contrary, it resulted that only Mr Farrugia was armed. At first, Mr Farrugia told the police that armed robbers had stopped Mr Ellul Bonici outside the restaurant but later admitted that he had had shot him.

Mr Justice Pace therefore ordered Mr Farrugia to pay Mr Ellul Bonici’s heirs Lm29,305 in damages.

Dr Edward Zammit Lewis appeared for the heirs while Dr Emanuel Mallia appeared for Mr Farrugia.