Updated | Suspects in bank messenger’s murder remanded in custody

Chris Scerri, known as ‘Buttuni’ or ‘Gazzetti’ and James Vella, known as ‘il-Frejzer’ were today remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the murder of Alphonse Ferriggi in 2000.

On September 18 2000, bank messenger Alphonse Ferriggi, 42, was delivering seven bags of internal bank mail when a black Volkswagen Golf drove up and a shot him in the head as he stood outside the Bank of Valletta branch.

Ferriggi was shot at almost point blank range and died on the spot. His assailants thought he was carrying money.

In 2011, jurors found Richard Grech ‘Iz-Zinanna’, 44, of Qormi, guilty for Ferriggi's murder, and he was consequently jailed for life. During the compilation of evidence against him, Grech blamed James Vella and Chris Scerri for the murder, and claimed that Vella was the mastermind behind the failed heist.

Joseph Zammit, 52, of Floriana, was also found guilty for being an accomplice in the murder and was sentences to 30 years behind bars.

Standing before the court this afternoon, Chris Scerri, 35, of Pieta, and James Vella, 33, of Qormi, were also charged with stealing bank documents, of holding Alphonse Ferriggi against his will, of being in possession of a firearm, of firing the firearm in a public place, and of causing damage to a BOV registered vehicle.  

The accused denied the charges, with James Vella insisting that he “did not know anything of the charges”.

Prosecuting inspectors Keith Arnaud and Chris Pullicino told the court that after reviewing the evidence in the case of Richard Grech, new evidence tying the accused to the murder emerged.

After reviewing the evidence of the case, including that of Grech and Zammit, also known as ‘Zeppi r-Redghu’, and after this evidence was corroborated by several witnesses, an application to issue an arrest warrant was presented.

The request was subsequently upheld by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli and an arrest warrant was issued.

Testifying on oath and grilled by defence lawyer Franco Debono, Inspector Chris Pullicino told the court that the new evidence was uncovered while analysing Grech's testimony during his trial by jury.

“The police statement of Richard Grech implicated the accused in the murder, and that they were present at the murder scene at the time of the murder,” Pullicino said.

On his part, fellow inspector Keith Arnaud told the court that up until yesterday, the police were confirming Grech's evidence by speaking to other witnesses. In addition, he also argued that there are additional pieces of evidence which were corroborated by these witnesses.

Disputing the arrest, defence lawyer Franco Debono claimed that since the evidence has been present since the murder was committed in 2000, the arrest of his clients was not justified on the basis of “new evidence”, and that they were only arrested to be arraigned.

In response, Inspector Pullicino underlined that irrespective of when the evidence was recorded, new evidence is defined as any evidence which was not disclosed before.

Presiding over the Criminal Court, Magistrate Gabriella Vella declared that the arrest was valid and confirmative with the law, claiming that the arrest was justified on the basis of new emerging evidence.

In her decree, Magistrate Vella told the court that despite the fact that the evidence presented was recorded in 2000 and 2011, the charges brought against the accused are serious.

She consequently denied bail and remanded the men in custody.

Lawyer Franco Debono was defence counsel while inspectors Chris Pullicino and Keith Arnaud prosecuted.