Forensic science used to sketch image of murder victim's face

A magistrate yesterday heard how forensic science was employed to reconstruct an image of the face of an unidentified man found dead, with shots to the face and chest, in a room at l-Ahrax in Mellieha almost 16 years ago.

Police Superintendent Joseph Valletta explained that after circulating the image in several clubs and shops, it resulted that the man was Nazzareno Ebejer who had been reported missing.

The superintendent was testifying before Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima in the compilation of evidence against Carmelo Sant, 53, known as Karmenu harbat, and George Pace, also 53, known as Il-berqa, who are pleading not guilty to the murder of 66-year-old Ebejer in April 1989.

They are further charged with attempted theft and the possession of a shotgun and ammunition without a licence.

Michael Vella, known as il-Fixx, who was also charged with the same crimes, died, aged 65, on December 20 last year at St Vincent de Paul Hospital.

Among other people, Superintendent Valletta said he spoke to Michael Vella who worked as a watchman at Old Railway Station, in Birkirkara. He spoke to Ebejer's elder son, who till then, did not know that Ebejer was his father.

He said he later learnt that after serving time in the Maltese prisons for murder, Ebejer had emigrated to Wales and lost all contact with his family. When he returned to Malta the only people to know were his sister and her two children.

Ebejer had been jailed for 18 years for the death of Nina Galea, a 36-year-old mother of nine, at Il-Laqxija, in Birkirkara. Galea was hit by a bullet on July 20, 1952 after Ebejer had fired a revolver at his brother-in-law, Vincent Saliba, with whom he had an argument. Saliba had ducked and the bullet hit the woman, who was sitting on her doorstep. She died instantly.

Ebejer was found guilty in a trial by jury by seven votes to two and had only served six years thanks to an amnesty given in 1958.

The case continues.