The victim of a 2009 hold-up of a mobile telephone shop in Birkirkara still has a bullet embedded in his arm, prosecutors told a jury today.

Matthew Mizzi, 29, from Cospicua is accused of complicity in the hold-up, which has already seen another man, Jonathan Coleiro, 30, jailed for 15 years.

Mizzi is also charged with the illegal possession of the revolver used during the hold-up, driving without a license and filing a false police report.

The case dates back to 13 April 2009, when the victim Charles Zammit was manning his Birkirkara shop.

At around 6:30pm that day, a hooded armed robber entered the shop and ordered Mr Zammit into a back room.

A struggle ensued when the robber was leaving the shop, during which five shots were fired, with one of the shots hitting Mr Zammit in the arm.

The robber made off with over €2,239 worth of electronic equipment, including three mobile phones and a laptop.

Mr Zammit managed to note down the getaway car's license plate number, which proved instrumental to the police.

The police managed to track down the car, which was owned by the accused's brother.

On the same day the car was traced, Mizzi filed a report at the Msida police station claiming that a hooded man got into his which was parked in Birkirkara, and ordered him to drive off at gunpoint.

Prosecutors told the jury, presided over by Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi, that doctors advised the victim not to have the bullet removed, as doing so could lead to further health complications.

The prosecution, led by lawyers Elaine Mercieca and Ann Marie Cutajar, told the jury that the accused provided the revolver and bullets used during the hold-up, and drove the getaway vehicle which was borrowed from his brother.

Lawyers Michael Sciriha, Lucio Sciriha and Christopher Chircop are appearing for the accused.