Updated: Murder trial - brother swears accused was home all night

The man charged with murdering Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech nine years ago was at home on the day of the murder and did not leave the place until at least 3am the following morning, his brothers testified this afternoon. David Zerafa, 39, of Nadur, is pleading not guilty to murdering Dr Grech, 46, outside his garage in Marsalforn in May 2004. Dr Grech had been shot in the neck and his cranium was smashed in with a baseball bat. He died from a blow to his head which caused massive fractures to his skull. Mr Zerafa’s brother Emmanuel testified that he saw his brother go to his room at around 8.45pm on the night of the murder. His brother, he said, did not leave the room. He said he woke up at 3am as he had to go fishing at 6am but decided not to go. At 3am, he said, the door was locked from the inside and with this lock no one could enter the residence, not even with a key. Mr Zerafa said he had told the inspector that his brother had been home. Maurizio Cordina, from the Attorney General’s Office, pointed out that the second time the accused spoke to the police he had said he was in Malta that night. His brother replied: "no, I swear he was in Gozo". His other brother Geoffrey also...