Investigators probing various possibilities

Solving the murder of Raymond Agius, the 49-year-old car dealer from Żebbuġ, is proving to be a hard nut to crack, the police are finding out.

Police investigators have delved into various possibilities as to who would kill Mr Agius - or commission his killing - so cold-bloodedly in the presence of witnesses, although the killer's face was covered by a crash helmet with a visor.

Not having yet established the motive for the murder, almost Mafia-like, is a big handicap to investigations, sources close to the police said. Many leads were followed and a number of people who had business dealings with the victim were summoned by the police to be interviewed, but, according to the sources, these have led them nowhere so far.

One had to have nerves of steel to enter a bar, the Butterfly Bar in Birkirkara, identify the target and, ignoring an order by the bar owner to remove the crash helmet, fire a pistol three times, calmly walk out and speed off on a motorcycle with an accomplice.

Two men entered the bar but it is believed that only one used a firearm.

Mr Agius, a father of two boys who was involved in other business activities, was hit twice in the head and died soon after in hospital. A third bullet was found in the bar.

His friend John Giordmaina, another car dealer who was with Mr Agius at the time, was also slightly injured in the shooting.

An observer noted that the way the murder was committed, in broad daylight and in a normally busy area near the Birkirkara bus terminus last Thursday morning, was uncommon in Malta.

All possibilities are being looked into, the sources said.