A police inspector yesterday told a court that the teenager who allegedly shot a man at Footloose Bar in Paceville less than two weeks ago, had told the police that the victim had been flirting with his girlfriend and “he felt his honour been insulted so he wanted to eliminate him.”

Testifying in the compilation of evidence against David Spiteri, 18, Inspector Raymond Cassar said that shortly after the incident took place, the accused had gone to the Luqa police station, admitting to the police that he had shot Mark Debono.

Mr Spiteri told the police he had seen the man flirt with his girlfriend, Frances Agius; feeling that his honour had been insulted he went to bring a pistol from his car and went back to the bar, found Mr Debono, pulled him by the shoulder and shot him in the side. Insp. Cassar told the court the accused had told the police he did not know Mr Debono.

The incident happened in the early hours of 24 August, and the second prosecuting inspector, Martin Sammut, told the court that he had been informed that a man had been shot and was lying unconscious at Footloose Bar.

After being rushed to hospital, medics found that the bullet was still inside him and had to be removed by means of an operation. The used cartridge had been found close to a bar in the middle of the establishment.

Insp. Sammut added that after speaking to the duty manager at the bar and a security guard, they told him they remembered seeing a man who looked angry order a drink. They then heard a loud bang and saw a man collapse.

The inspector said he had gone to hospital to speak to the victim later that day and he had told him he only remembered meeting a number of people the night before.

Mr Debono also told the inspector that he remembered speaking to a couple by the bar; it was then that he felt himself lose consciousness, together with a burning feeling in his back and legs. He had also told the inspector that he did not know Mr Spiteri.

At the Luqa police station, Mr Spiteri told the inspector that he had gone to Paceville with his girlfriend after going to Gharghur to help his cousin, who tended to a bar.

He said they were at Footloose Bar when Mr Debono put his arm on Ms Agius’ (the accused’s girlfriend) shoulder.

He said he had been introduced to Mr Debono by Ms Agius’ brother, Marvin Mallia, who lied to him, saying he was their cousin, but the accused did not believe him.

The accused told Insp. Cassar that he went to his car to get a pistol from a bag that lay beneath the passenger’s seat, loaded it and went back to the bar, where he shot Mr Debono in the stomach. He then left the bar with his girlfriend and went to the Luqa police station to make a statement.

Mr Spiteri had told the police he bought the gun a year ago for about Lm120. Insp. Cassar told the court that the accused’s relatives did not know about the gun, but did say it could have been the case that he bought the gun after feeling threatened by the parents of a former girlfriend.

The police had been informed that a green car that was parked in Pembroke could be related to the case and they later found the pistol.

The accused’s girlfriend’s brother, Marvin Mallia, said he had gone to Footloose and introduced Mr Debono to his sister, who later sat down on a box. Mr Debono had sat down next to her and put his arm on her shoulder.

Mr Mallia said he then remembered seeing the accused leave the establishment and return, approaching Mr Debono, who stood at the bar.

The witness then told the court that sensing something was wrong, he winked at Mr Debono, introducing him to Mr Spiteri as his cousin.

However, the accused did not believe Mr Mallia’s lie; the witness said he then heard a loud bang and saw Mr Debono collapse.

The compilation of evidence continues on 24 September.

Police Inspectors Raymond Cassar and Martin Sammut are prosecuting.

Dr Henry Antoncich and Dr Michael Sciriha are appearing for the accused. Dr Giannella Caruana Curran is appearing parte civile.