Investigators believe there is a link between the killing of two men in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and Mosta yesterday morning.
Relatives were also heard saying that there had been several previous attempts on his life
Both victims – Josef Grech, 41, from Balzan, and Joseph Cutajar, 46, from Marsascala – were facing criminal proceedings over murders they allegedly committed, a fact that has led police to suspect a connection.
The first murder took place in the early hours. A hunter passing through Qalet Marku, just off the Coast Road, stumbled upon Mr Grech’s semi-dressed corpse lying in a pool of blood at about 3.30am.
As it happens, it was near the spot that lawyer Margaret Mifsud had been found dead in her car a few months ago.
Mr Grech had been shot in the head, Assistant Police Commissioner Pierre Calleja said at a crime conference later.
The murder weapon was of a small calibre, probably a pistol.
The amount of blood found around the victim indicated that the murder was committed in that spot, although further forensic tests are being carried out to determine this.
About two hours later, while investigators were still on site at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, they were alerted to another shooting in Triq il-Mitħna in Mosta.
Mr Cutajar, known as il-Lion, was found sprawled on the ground in a pool of blood but with his legs inside a metallic green Toyota Yaris, whose wipers were still moving from side to side.
Men were facing murder charges
Neighbours who spoke to The Times said they had heard four or five shots in quick succession. However, Mr Calleja would not specify how many spent cartridges were found. Glass panes of nearby houses were damaged.
Sources close to the investigation said Mr Cutajar had stopped at a nearby lotto booth to purchase Super Five tickets. He was on his way to the Mosta police station to sign the bail book as he did every day.
Mr Calleja said an autopsy revealed that Mr Cutajar had been shot a number of times with a long gun, probably a rifle. The fatal shot was to the head.
Although the dynamics of the shooting were still being investigated, Mr Cutajar probably attempted to get out of the car after he was shot, the Assistant Commissioner said.
There were brief moments of commotion when Mr Cutajar’s relatives, including his children, arrived on the scene insisting they wanted to see their father.
They were heard questioning the police about why they had not apprehended the person who killed their father when they “knew perfectly well” who he was. They were quickly shushed up by inspectors and a constable.
The relatives were also heard saying that there had been several previous attempts on Mr Cutajar’s life and finally someone had succeeded in killing him.
Mr Calleja said the police were still trying to establish the victims’ last movements and had no suspects as yet. He appealed to the public for information to help them solve the murders.
A Toyota Vitz believed to have been used in the Mosta murder was found burnt close to Mdina. It had been stolen from St Paul’s Bay in July and the registration plates were stolen from Mosta a few days’ later.
Joseph Cutajar
Joseph Cutajar, known as il-Lion, 46, was facing criminal proceedings over the double murder of Kevin Gatt, 32, of Għaxaq and Stephen Zammit, also 32, of Fgura.
They were shot on March 15 in an underground complex of garages in Marsascala.
Mr Gatt died on the scene while Mr Zammit succumbed to his injuries a few days later in hospital. Both were in a car.
The court has been hearing evidence about the case. In one of the last sittings, a forensic expert testified that Mr Cutajar was not the one who fired the first shot.
Brigadier Maurice Calleja said his investigations also showed that the gun that fired the first shot had later jammed.
At least nine shots were fired by two types of firearms, both semi-automatic.
The gun allegedly used by Mr Cutajar was found later in a rooftop water tank.
Mr Cutajar was out on bail pending these proceedings.
Josef Grech
Josef Grech, known as il-Yo-Yo, 41, was due to face a trial by jury in April over his alleged involvement in the murder of a 55-year-old woman, Patricia Attard, who was shot dead at Ta’ Qali on February 13, 2004, in a minivan she used to drive.
She was found slumped on the passenger seat after being shot three times with a small calibre semi-automatic pistol.
In the compilation of evidence against Mr Grech, the court heard that the police had received information that Ms Attard’s husband, Richard, had wanted to kill his wife.
When Mr Attard was interviewed by the police he said the couple had problems but denied wanting to kill her.
The court also heard that the police had received confidential information that the accused had asked Charles Vella, known as il-Gagu, to kill the victim for €23,000. Mr Vella and Mr Grech had allegedly discussed throwing the victim off a block of flats or a cliff.