Man found dead in oven
The workshop in Damascus Street, Buġibba, where Gaetano Romano (right), 20, was found dead on Thursday night.
A young man was found dead by his father in an industrial oven in a macabre incident that the police are treating as the first murder of the year.
Gaetano Romano was discovered by his father Nicola in a Buġibba garage on Thursday night, a day after his 20th birthday.
The grim find came after Nicola, who was abroad, had made several failed attempts to contact his son.
According to neighbours, Mr Romano, an Italian who has lived in Malta for several years, flew back because he got worried that his son was not answering the phone.
When he did not find Gaetano at home, he forced open the door to his garage in Damascus Street, which is used as a workshop, and discovered the badly charred body of his son in the furnace at about 9 p.m.
The police confirmed that a lifeless body had been found in an industrial oven and that it was extensively burnt. However, the autopsy held yesterday was inconclusive as to the cause of death. Reports that six nails were shot into the young man's head could not be confirmed.
Neighbours said they saw Gaetano's father crying and banging on a low wall near the garage on Thursday night. The Romano family lives just round the corner, a few doors away from the garage used as a gypsum shop, the Cinque Stelle.
Gaetano Romano worked in his father's gypsum business, which was at the centre of a controversy last February when several residents complained he was operating an illegal furnace, which they feared could explode at any moment.
A lawyer representing the residents said the concerns grew particularly after an explosion last May rocked buildings and even cracked walls.
A small group of shocked neighbours living up the road, who gathered outside the Romanos' home yesterday, said they were unaware of any disputes.
One of them said she last saw the victim earlier this week, when he was on his way to buy groceries from a nearby store: "I have been living here for 19 years and remember Gaetano growing up. This is a big tragedy."
Another neighbour recounted how the young man's mother, Doris, had asked her to keep an eye on the boy before she died some 10 years ago.
The mother succumbed to cancer at the age of 45, when her son was preparing for his confirmation.
Mr Romano has since remarried and has two daughters with his new wife - five-year-old Maria and a baby.
The family's dog, Rocky, was vindictively killed eight months ago and found rolled in a carpet in a nearby field. A neighbour said the family had even received photos of the dead dog.
"Gaetano cried as if a child had been killed," one of the neighbours said. She said the family had scoured the area in search of Rocky and were devastated when they found him dead.
Behind a low gate to the Romano household, another dog, also named Rocky, sat quietly, putting his muzzle through the aluminium bars, as loud dance music drifted from an apartment above.
A magisterial inquiry was launched.
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16 Comments
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maxine
Apr 6th 2009, 18:12
would people stop judging others?? don't you know how much pain the father and relatives are in? some people should be ashamed of themselves!! gaetano was my friend, always smiling & helping others, i hate hearing people talk about non-sense....so please help this family by not judging them... R.I.P Gaetano Miss you Maxine xxxxxxxxxx
A. Camilleri
Apr 6th 2009, 16:01
Malta is no special country, and its citizens are anything but innocent. So let's stop treating our country as some kind of miraculous virgin. Crimes of similar nature have been seen in the past. As for the mafia allegations.... for a change the maltese have proved themselves to be the all-knowing, omnipotent and wise people who have collected all the evidence and have reached the right conclusion even before the judicial system have. Let’s leave the job to the experts... .... talk about throwing the first stone.
Kathy Elliot
Apr 6th 2009, 08:44
This is so utterly horrible, I have no words. Someone obviously had a huge grudge against the family, that degenerated to this mental insanity. However the perpetrator is, they're completely dangerous, and completely insane. My condolences, useless as they are, go to the family, and especially the father, who lost the last living memory of a wife he loved so much he followed her into her country. My prayers go the police, wishing they will be able to come to the bottom of this and meat out justice.
victor vella
Apr 4th 2009, 21:10
@ Franco Farrugia,
You said exactly what I intended to say as soon as I read the article.If I am not mistaken Romano did some work at Capua Hospital while it was being built, and if it is the same person I know him to be a good chap , not troublesome and easy to know.But this is definitely a mafia job.
Tammy Borg
Apr 4th 2009, 19:25
R.i.p my friend....hope they catch who did this to you...you didnt deserve it mate....
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Maxine & Tammy
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Paul Borda
Apr 4th 2009, 17:35
I cannot believe that someting like this could ever happen in Malta let alone to a friend its shocking and justice must prevail.
J.Pulis
Apr 4th 2009, 17:21
My condolences to his family. May god be with you at this time. Rest in peace Gaetano. May justice be done.
Keith Mifsud
Apr 4th 2009, 16:46
It is very shocking and sad to hear that our friend Gaetano has died, but for a person with such vitality, optimism, respect and love to be actually killed in this inhumane manner it is devastating. My condolences go to his family and his friends which like me I'm sure are thinking of Gaetano and remembering the good times we all had together thanks to Gaetano's presence. Until we meet again my friend.
Marlene Vella
Apr 4th 2009, 15:11
Only the family know what trauma they must be going through right now. I hope the perpetrators are brought to justice to help provide some closure to this family.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 4th 2009, 14:58
'The family's dog, Rocky, was vindictively killed eight months ago and found rolled in a carpet in a nearby field. A neighbour said the family had even received photos of the dead dog.
"Gaetano cried as if a child had been killed," one of the neighbours said. She said the family had scoured the area in search of Rocky and were devastated when they found him dead.
LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG, EH?
What an atrocious turn of events, not only by the dog's butchery but also for the man and the way that he was killed.
This is no ordinary murder, but I have no doubt that the Police can gather that much as well.
I doubt if this murder will ever be resolved ... it has all the characteristics of some Italian mafia!
Such murders do not happen in Malta - you watch them on tv!
Saviour A Ellul-Bonici
Apr 4th 2009, 14:32
This is the way MAN,the intelligent scum of the animal world, behaves.
Robert Mifsud
Apr 4th 2009, 14:31
How can supposed to be humans do these horrific acts to other humans ? Whatever the problem, who are we to decide when to ends ones life ? Only God has that power.And this is our problem nowadays nobody or only a few embrace God in their lives.In maltese we say ^IL BIZA TA ALLA HADD MA GHADU JAGHATI KASA !
James A. Tyrrell
Apr 4th 2009, 14:30
I can't fully put into words the sorrow I feel for Nicola Romano. In the case of a sudden death people often say, 'I know how you feel', but I doubt very much if anyone who has read this story can honestly say such a thing in this case. Having lived my life in N. Ireland and served as a police officer at the height of the troubles I have witnessed a lot of death in various forms, but I can honestly say I have never had to witness anything like this.
No-one should have to see such a thing but to find your own son in such circumstances is beyond imagination. From the comments I have read Gaetano was a very well liked young man and I know everyone who knew him will gather around at this time and give strength to his father. I hope and pray that the police get to the bottom of this matter very quickly and at least give some form of closure to Mr. Romano.
Jimmy John M Vella
Apr 4th 2009, 13:57
A neighbour... Scary and sad... My heart goes out to his family and all the loved one's he's left behind.
Mark-Anthony Fenech
Apr 4th 2009, 10:16
just inhumane and beyond crazy... a bizarre case...
My condolences, insufficient as they are, go out to his family...
Jeremy J Camilleri
Apr 4th 2009, 09:34
Terrible tragedy.
Man;s inhumanity to man
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