Updated - Man on trial over Zejtun bomb murder - Accused 'had tried to hire a killer'

Ronnie Azzopardi, 41 of Cospicua, went on trial today, facing one charge of murder and four counts of attempted murder when he allegedly planted a bomb in Zejtun on June 18, 2005. Mr Azzopardi, 41, is charged with the murder of Angela Bondin and with trying to kill Mary Rose Cassar and her sons Jesmar, 7, Jean Leon, 4, and 20-month old Kevin. He is also charged with seriously injuring Therese Grima. Angela Bondin, 48, died as a result of the burns she suffered in the explosion. Tessie Grima, 60, was seriously injured when the  bomb went off at about 12.45 p.m. in a garage in Triq il-Madonna tal-Hniena, Zejtun. The police had suspected that the intended victim of the bomb was a woman from Cottonera who was known to visit her mother in Zejtun every day and always parked her car at the same place at the same time. The two victims had nothing to do with the case. From the roof of her house, Ms Grima had noticed a person leaving a bag by a car in her street at about 10.30 a.m. She called out to the man not to leave the bag there as it was the weekend and rubbish would remain uncollected and fester. But the man ignored her. Later in the day, Ms Grima decided to remove the bag herself...