The trial by juror of Melchior Spiteri, who stands accused of murdering a man during a hold-up, was postponed today after a newspaper article giving details about his incarceration was published.

Judge Antonio Mizzi ordered the postponement on the basis that the newspaper article - published in the General Workers Union paper L-Orizzont - may have compromised the jurors' impartiality. During such trials, it is the norm that no details of jail time served by the accused are given so as not to influence the jurors. The jurors are told that their decision has to be based solely on the case before them and cannot be influenced by the accused's past criminal offences. 

In this particular trial, Mr Spiteri, 40, from Cospicua, is accused of having murdered Italian businessman Vittorio Cassone during a hold-up in 1993.

He had escaped from prison a month before the hold-up and was on the run at the time. It is alleged that Mr Spiteri shot Mr Cassone in the chest during the hold-up, making off with Lm 150 (€350) in cash.

Melchior Spiteri - a career criminal – has been jailed 30 times and is currently serving a 30 year sentence for the murder of Jason Azzopardi, known as 'is-Sufu,' in Cospicua in October 2001.