Woman found shot dead in van
A 55-year-old mother from Hamrun was shot dead at Ta' Qali some time before 11.30 p.m. on Friday. Patricia Attard was found dead in a minivan she drove, by mobile squad police who first noted the van some time after 11 p.m. in a remote part of Ta' Qali.
A 55-year-old mother from Hamrun was shot dead at Ta' Qali some time before 11.30 p.m. on Friday.
Patricia Attard was found dead in a minivan she drove, by mobile squad police who first noted the van some time after 11 p.m. in a remote part of Ta' Qali. The van was seen again there at about 4 a.m., raising police suspicions.
The woman was found slumped on the passenger seat after an unknown person or persons shot her three times with a pistol. One of the shots went right through her head.
Another bullet was lodged in her brain and a third just grazed her head. One of the bullets smashed the window on the driver's side. A spent cartridge was found inside the van while another two were on the ground besides the van, indicating a semi-automatic pistol was used.
The police believe the woman was enticed to go to the spot where she was killed. The killer was either waiting for her and escaped in a getaway car or went with her and left in a car he had left in the area or had someone pick him up after killing her.
A number of people were yesterday being interviewed by the police in connection with the case.
Duty Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna appointed several court experts including ballistics expert Maurice Calleja and clinical forensic physician Mario Scerri to assist in the inquiry.
Investigations are being carried out by Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Assistant Commissioner Manwel Cassar and CID Superintendent Pierre Calleja.
The last murder took place in August 2002, 17 months ago. No murder cases were reported last year. The last year without a murder before last year was 1959.