A man who is serving a life sentence over a bomb attack that killed an innocent woman in Zejtun 11 years ago has been jailed for another six years for attempted murder. Both cases are related to the same inheritance dispute.
Ronnie Azzopardi, 44, from Cospicua was charged with the attempted murder of Kevin Attard, who was in a relationship with his deceased brother's wife. The brother, Jason Azzopardi, was murdered in 2001 and the accused was locked in bitter inheritance dispute with the woman – Mary Rose Cassar.
He was also accused of attempting to murder Josef Tabone, being in illegal possession of a shotgun and knife, damaging two cars and relapsing.
The court heard how, on 29 October 2003, at around 6:45pm, Kevin Attard was leaving a Cospicua gym with Mr Tabone. At one point he saw the accused spring out from behind a tree and fire three shots from a shotgun. Two shots hit the car but Mr Attard slammed on the gas pedal and sped off. No one was injured.
Kevin Attard explained that he was in a relationship with Mary Rose Cassar. At the time Ms Cassar had a dispute with the accused over a Mercedes car which had belonged to Jason Azzopardi. The accused claimed his brother wanted him to have the car but a court awarded the vehicle to Mrs Cassar, who planned to sell it. The accused had taken against Mr Attard simply because he was going out with Mrs Cassar, the court heard.
Forensic experts told the court that Mr Attard's car and another vehicle had been hit by shotgun pellets. Gunshot residue was found on Ronnie Azzopardi's face and clothes.
The accused chose to testify and claimed that he had spent the day at his mother's house before going to Paceville with his girlfriend, Rita Azzopardi. There a friend told him he was being named in connection with a shooting in Cospicua.
The court found several inconsistencies in Mr Azzopardi's testimony. He had told the court that he eventually returned home with his partner but the police established that he returned home on his own.
He claimed he had gunshot residue because he used to go hunting but had trouble naming his hunting buddies. The police had also found freshly washed clothes at this home by the accused could not remember when he had done the washing.
His girlfriend also contradicted some of his statements including by saying that she had done the washing herself and that Azzopardi had showered at her place, when he had given a different version.
A shop assistant also told the court that the accused was alone at 7:15pm – the accused claimed he was always accompanied by his girlfriend.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech found Mr Azzopardi guilty of all charges and sentenced him to six years in prison. He was also ordered to pay €1,547 in court fees, warning him that if the fine was not paid it would be converted into prison time.
Inspectors Anthony Cassar and Jeffrey Cilia prosecuted.
This was not Mr Azzopardi's only case involving his deceased brother's inheritance. Three years ago he was jailed for life for placing a bomb which killed an innocent woman and injured another in Zejtun. The bomb was originally intended for Mary Rose Cassar (his sister-in-law) and her children. The prosecution had alleged that the motive behind the attempt was also the inheritance dispute. Angela Bondin had lost her life in the incident while Tessie Grima was seriously injured. Mr Azzopardi had been cleared of murder but found guilty of causing serious injuries that lead to death.
In 2012 Mr Azzopardi was jailed for 20 years for the attempted murder of Jonathan Spiteri, in a revenge plot related to his brother Jason's murder.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/1O1Pftu
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