Workers ‘sounded scared’ as they shouted to be lifted away from fire, John Agius compilation hears

Construction workers carrying out plastering works next to John Agius’s property told court today that they were unaware of any previous dispute involving him before a fire broke out beneath them.

The testimony emerged as the compilation of evidence against Agius continued.

Crane operator Cruise Tonna said two workers were carrying out plastering works from a cage attached to his crane when they suddenly began shouting over the radio for him to lift them.

“Up, up, up,” Tonna recalled hearing, saying their voices sounded frightened. He began raising the cage and was later told that a man had been throwing pieces of wood beneath the workers. Shortly afterwards, he was informed that a fire had broken out.

Tonna later heard a gunshot but said he did not know what was happening.

 

Worker says he filmed fire being started

Muhammed Kasem Ibrahim, one of the workers inside the cage, said they had been working normally and had greeted Agius before starting.
He testified that Agius later threw wood and other material beneath them, poured fuel over it and set it alight.

Ibrahim said he filmed the incident and alerted the crane operator to lift them away. The footage was later uploaded to TikTok. Around an hour later, he said he saw Agius carrying a shotgun and alerted police and his boss. He subsequently heard gunshots.

During cross-examination, Ibrahim denied provoking Agius by daring him to throw more material.

Ayman Khalaf, the workers’ boss, was on the ground when he heard them shouting to be lifted before seeing smoke. He did not see how the fire started but later watched footage which he said showed Agius starting it.

 

Court hears of boundary wall dispute

Amanda Mizzi, a family friend of the construction site’s owners, said there had previously been a disagreement involving Agius over a boundary wall which workers intended to plaster.

She said Agius maintained that the wall belonged to him and did not want it plastered. Mizzi had been asked to be at the site in case a dispute arose and warned the workers not to engage with Agius.

After leaving for an appointment, she received a call at around 10:15am from a worker telling her that Agius was going to “burn them”.

She returned to find firefighters and police at the scene. As police attempted to gain access to Agius’s property, Mizzi said an elderly woman approached her with a warning.

“Be careful because he has weapons,” Mizzi recalled the woman saying. She passed the warning on to police and later heard several gunshots.

 

Firefighters suspect arson

Civil Protection Department station officer Gordon Cassar said firefighters were initially called to a reported dustbin fire at around 10:20am before being informed that it had spread to a construction site.

Upon arriving, Cassar was told that somebody was trying to start a fire beneath workers. After seeing footage of the incident, he told the control room it appeared to be a case of arson and requested police assistance.

Firefighters tackled the blaze from above through the construction site. Cassar said police later attempted to enter the neighbouring property before being warned that somebody inside could be armed. He subsequently heard gunshots and assisted an injured police officer.

Four other Civil Protection officers — Ryan Cesare, Danilo Marmara, Darly Zammit and Erik Cachia — also testified about the operation, with several recalling being moved away from the area before hearing gunshots. The compilation of evidence continues on 8 October.

The prosecution was led by Inspectors Joseph Mercieca, Christian Xuereb and Stephen Gulia, assisted by Attorney General lawyers Kaylee Bonett and Joseph Camilleri Azarov.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Herman Mula appeared as parte civile for Johann Vella. Lawyers Anthea Zammit and Paul Camilleri appeared as parte civile for Omar Sharif.

Defence Lawyer Thomas Sant appeared for the accused John Aguis.

Magistrate Gianella Camilleri Busuttil is presiding over the case.

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