A man who is standing trial for his alleged part in a 2009 hold-up in Birkirkara had told the police that his friend had forced him to flee the scene of the crime at gunpoint, a court heard 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.

Inspector Keith Arnaud from the CID recalled how the owner of the Seven Mobile shop in Birkirkara was shot in the arm while chasing a hooded robber who had just held him at gunpoint before stealing electronics from the establishment. The robber fled the scene in a Hyundai Accent that was being driven by a second man. He said the robber was wearing a blue tracksuit, was wearing a black balaclava and held a small revolver.

The Inspector said some time later, Matthew Mizzi called the police claiming that an armed person had entered his car and forced him to drive off. Inspector Arnaud said Mr Mizzi’s story did not make a lot of sense. The accused claimed he had been sitting in the car near where his new girlfriend lived, hoping that she would pass by. However, he did not have her number, despite claiming he had been dating her for a number of weeks. The place where the alleged hijack took place was also different to that described by the shop owner.

Mr Mizzi, the inspector said, changed his version twice in the space of a few hours. First he said he knew who the assailant was but was too scared to reveal his identity. In another version, he admitted that Mr Coleiro was the person who held up the shop. He told the police that he had given his friend a ride to Birkirkara because he wanted to run an errand. While waiting in the car he heard gunfire. After that, a man wearing a balaclava and holding a gun entered the car and told him to drive off. Mr Mizzi said he was enraged when the robber took off his mask, revealing that it was in fact his friend. He said he made him exit the car in Valley Road. On another occasion he said it was Mr Coleiro who chose to exit the vehicle.

Mr Mizzi allegedly confirmed the identity of the robber to the police when he saw photographs of him on one of their desks. The inspector said the getaway car was filmed on CCTV driving down Valley Road, where police officers later found the balaclava. Mr Coleiro was arrested on the same day in Bormla. He denied his part in the hold-up, despite being told that his friend had given him up.

When the two were interrogated together, Mr Mizzi asked Mr Coleiro to say if it was true that he had only given him a lift, but Mr Coleiro bowed his head down and said nothing. The inspector said Mr Mizzi always remained calm during interrogations.

After his arraignment, Mr Coleiro phoned the inspector to tell him he wanted to cooperate and would tell him where he hid the gun. After retrieving the weapon, Mr Coleiro claimed that the gun was given to him by Mr Mizzi, who had planned the robbery with him. He also said Mr Mizzi would often ask him for a sum of money he had lent Mr Coleiro and, on one occasion, did so with the revolver tucked in his belt, as if threatening him.  

During cross examination, defence lawyer Michael Schiriha noted that this claim had never surfaced before. “Does your memory work in reverse, or in fast forward? Would you remember something you heard yesterday or something you heard a year ago?” he asked the inspector.

Mr Arnaud said it was normal for someone to forget a small detail and remember about it later. However, Dr Schiriha objected strongly to the detail being described as small.

The trial continues on Thursday. Lawyers Elaine Mercieca and Ann Marie Cutajar from the Office of the Attorney General are prosecuting. Lawyers Michael and Lucio Schiriha and Christopher Chircop are appearing for Mr Mizzi.