Officer testifies on murder suspect's arrest

A police inspector yesterday told a court how investigations that started with information that a man had planned to kill his wife ended in the arrest of a man who worked as a driver at a garage.

Police Inspector Carmelo Bartolo gave an overview of his involvement in the investigations in the compilation of evidence against Josef Grech, 32, of Balzan who stands charged with killing Patricia Attard in Ta' Qali on February 13, 2004.

Magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima heard the inspector explain that the police had been informed that Richard Attard wanted to kill his wife Patricia because she wanted separation from him and he suspected she would gamble his money away.

Mr Attard, who was called in for questioning, denied the allegations and further investigations led to the arrest of Mr Grech, who worked for the Attards.

Investigations revealed that on the night of the murder the victim had gone to a bingo club in Qawra and a closed-circuit camera of the club showed the time she had left.

Further investigations revealed that the victim left the club shortly after receiving a phone call and a woman, who was with Mrs Attard at the club, told the police Mrs Attard said she was leaving to meet Mr Grech and would be back.

Police also investigated phone calls made to and from Mrs Attard's mobile phone, which was missing, and records showed that on that night Mrs Attard had received phone calls from mobile numbers registered under Mr Grech and his wife.

Consequently, Mr Grech was arrested.