Darren Debono, known as it-Topo, is set to testify about the 2010 attempted armed robbery of the HSBC headquarters later this month as the compilation of evidence against Vincent Muscat continues.

Debono was last week sentenced to 10 and a half years in jail as part of a plea deal on the same case, a decision that drew anger against the Attorney General from the police union and NGOs.

Police officers who turned up on site foiled the attempted robbery, and in an ensuing shootout, both Debono and Muscat were wounded.

The trial by jury of Muscat, known as il-Kohhu, was scheduled to begin last week but was adjourned after a last-minute plea deal between the Attorney General and Debono. Debono pleaded guilty in exchange of charges of attempted murder being dropped.

As the trial by jury was about to begin, prosecutors asked the court to include Debono on the list of witnesses.

Muscat’s defence lawyers, Franco Debono and Roberto Montalto, strongly objected to this, insisting that it would be a breach of Muscat’s right to a fair hearing to hear a new witness at the trial stage.

The Criminal Court sent the case back to the Court of Magistrates to hear the new witness testify, adjourning the start of the trial until this task was completed.

The re-opened compilation of evidence is to begin on 20 January, before Magistrate Monica Vella.

Lawyers Edward Gatt and Mark Vassallo are appearing for Debono.