Second man charged over Ta' Qali murder

Carmel Vella yesterday appeared in court to answer to the charge of complicity in the murder of Patricia Attard, who was shot dead in a mini van in Ta' Qali earlier this year.

Vella, known as il-gagu, is the second man to be charged in connection with the murder of Attard on February 14. The other man was Josef Grech, 32, of Balzan, who is undergoing separate proceedings for Attard's murder.

In yesterday's sitting Vella pleaded not guilty to complicity in the murder, committing a crime during the operative time of a suspended jail term and relapsing.

Magistrate Saviour Demicoli heard Police Inspector Chris Pullicino explain how while investigating the murder, the police questioned several people, including Vella.

Vella told the police how Grech had approached him several times to help him kill someone. He said that on one occasion he met Grech at Mellieha and the plan was to push Attard off a cliff. However, the plan fell through because Attard was scared to move towards the edge of the cliff.

The magistrate also heard Glen Borg explain that he knew Vella through the San Gwann Bocci Club. On the night of February 13, Vella went to the club for a drink and after some time Grech joined Vella. "When Josef Grech left, Carmel Vella told me: 'Did you hear what he just told me?' He told me that Grech told him he would give him Lm10,000 to eliminate a woman. He told me he would not even do it for Lm100,000," Borg said.

The case continues.

Inspectors Carmelo Bartolo and Christopher Pullicino are prosecuting.

Dr José Herrera and Dr Roberto Montalto are counsel to Vella.