Vince Muscat, known as il-Kohhu, told a trial by jury that he does not have the guts to shoot.
He was testifying in the trial by jury of the four men charged with the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Carmel Chircop will continue on Tuesday morning before Madam Justice Edwina Grima.
The accused are ‘Ta’ Maksar’ brothers, Robert and Adrian Agius, Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio.
Vella and Robert Agius, Adrian’s younger brother are accused of complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by supplying the bomb that killed her in October 2017.
Adrian Agius is charged with commissioning the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop in 2015. Prosecutors insist that the hit was also carried out in complicity with Jamie Vella and George Degiorgio who are accused of executing Chircop’s murder.
All four accused deny the charges against them and if found guilty, they face up to life in prison.
In separate proceedings, Degiorgio pleaded guilty to his role in the Caruana Galizia murder.
The four men were charged in February 2021 after Vince Muscat admitted guilt in the Caruana Galizia murder and was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a plea bargain.
Muscat was subsequently granted a presidential pardon to tell all on the Chircop murder.
On the second day of cross-examination, the defence pressed Muscat on the fact that he had explained that there were two weapons, a pistol in the console of the car and a revolver in Jamie’s possession for the Carmel Chircop job. But now, he is insisting that an AK-47 was in the car under the seat.
The defence asked Muscat whether he missed two shots fired two metres away from Chircop due to a disability he had briefed the court about.
“I don’t have the guts to shoot,” Muscat replied.
The defence continued to ask the witness about his role in the murder and why it deserved €20,000. “You have denied any involvement in all decisions. Then why were you even there?”
“You cannot say no to the Maksar brothers,” Muscat responded. Even if they had offered less money, he couldn’t say no to them, he said. “If I had said no, they would have done something bad. I joined the operation out of fear.”
Muscat testified that George Degorgio had told him that he would not be taking any money for the murder of Carmel Chircop. Muscat at the time assumed he would be paid in a different manner.