A woman testified today that she witnessed the two men accused of murdering Simon Grech in 2005 carrying out the act, and that they threatened that she would meet the same fate if she spoke up.

Mr Grech, who was aged 20, was found dead in a field in Marsa in April 13, 2005. He had suffered multiple stab wounds, and had been dead for around a week when he was discovered. But police investigations failed to lead to any arraignment until last month, when 42-year-old Libyan national Ismael Habesh and 46-year-old Tunisian Faical Mahouachi were charged with murdering Mr Grech on April 5.

Today morning, Karen Rapinett testified that on the night of the murder, she was standing outside the HSBC branch in Marsa, as was Mr Grech, when the two men picked him up in their car.

A scuffle apparently broke out between Mr Grech and Mr Habesh when the former attempted to steal the latter’s sunglasses, and Mr Grech’s hands were bloodied. Mr Rapinett accompanied Mr Grech to a nearby bar, where he washed his hands, before they returned to the spot.

The two suspects returned in their car, and Ms Rapinett said that Mr Grech asked Mr Habesh why he had gone to take drugs without him, prompting another argument to break out. She said that Mr Habesh beat up Mr Grech so badly that the victim lost consciousness.

Mr Mahouchi then got out of the car to help carry Mr Grech into a nearby field.

Ms Rapinett said that she followed the three men, and that she saw Mr Habesh produce a knife. While she could not see the victim because of the tall grass, she said that she did hear him shout in pain.

She recounted that she left the scene a short while later, but returned to find the two men in their car, covered in blood. At this point, Mr Habesh told her that she would end up in the same way if she opened her mouth over the incident.

Ms Rapinett will continue testifying at a later date.

Inspectors Chris Pullicino and Louise Calleja prosecuted. Lawyer Edward Gatt represented Mr Habesh.