Two men are wanted by the police in connection with the “premeditated murder” of Paul Degabriele, who was shot five times outside a bar in Marsa yesterday.

Mr Degabriele, 48, of Fgura, was killed at about 11am outside Sammy’s Bar in Belt il-Ħazna Road by a man who then escaped in a stolen white Nissan Vannette with stolen licence plates that was driven by another man, Assistant Police Commissioner Pierre Calleja, responsible for the Criminal Investigations Department, told a crime conference.

Mr Degabriele, known as Is-Suldat, had just stepped out of the bar and was sitting in his Toyota pickup when he was shot three times in the head and twice in his upper body. A semi-automatic 9mm pistol was used, the police said.

Another man was in the pickup with Mr Degabriele when the assailant started shooting but he escaped unhurt.

Victim was shot five times with a semi-automatic 9mm pistol

When the police arrived on the scene, the site was quickly cordoned off and a tent was erected around the Toyota and Mr Degabriele’s body.

Duty Magistrate Doreen Clarke conducted an onsite inquiry with the help of several court and forensic experts.

The man who was with Mr Degabriele provided the police with a description of the person who fired the shots and an identikit was then drawn up. A copy of the identikit was circulated to the press and Mr Calleja gave details about the case through a power point presentation.

The main suspect is a medium-to-well build Caucasian male who is about 5’8 tall.

No description was given yesterday of the driver of the Nissan, which was stolen from Msida on January 9 and bearing the licence plate IBJ-352, which had itself been stolen from another car in Marsascala on May 19.

The Nissan van was later found burnt out in a private underground garage in Dun Frans Camilleri Street, Ħamrun. The men are believed to have escaped on foot from the garage, exiting from another street.

Mr Calleja said the getaway vehicle could have possibly left the crime scene by turning into Sannat Lane but they were not excluding anything. The police were examining footage from security cameras in various areas between Marsa and Ħamrun.

Addressing his first crime conference since taking office, Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit said he was committed to do his job and wanted to further cooperate with the media.

“People have a right to know and we want to correct any fears about what is going on”.

He pointed out that this was a “premeditated murder” where a particular person had been targeted and, therefore, there was no danger for people in the streets.

Mr Calleja said no weapons were found on Mr Degabriele. However, he could not say whether there were any in his Toyota because the pickup was being checked by forensic experts.

Last October, Mr Degabriele had reported to the police that a bomb had been placed under the Toyota. The device had been safely detonated by ordnance experts.

In December, he had been questioned about the murder of Joseph Cutajar, known as Il-Lion, who was found dead in his car in Mosta a few hours after Josef Grech, 41, from Balzan, known as Il-Yo Yo, was found shot in the head in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

Mr Degabriele had been released without being charged.

When asked whether the police were linking Mr Degabriele’s death to the double murders or any previous cases, Mr Calleja said he “could not say whether there was a link to other cases about which he had been investigated or other cases”.

He urged anyone with infor­mation about the case or who might have seen anything – especially between 10am and noon yesterday – to contact the police confidentially on 119 or 2122 4001.

This is the second murder this year. Three months ago, Ronald Galea, a 65-year-old Birkirkara businessman who was shot dead outside his factory in Ħal Far.

Web of violence: Four shootouts, one car bomb, five dead men

Five men were killed in the past 14 months in what is suspected to be a web of violent gang crime and revenge shootings. Christian Peregin revisits the key events, all still shrouded in mystery.

March 15, 2012

A night-time shootout in a Marsascala apartment block garage leaves Kevin Gatt dead and Stephen Zammit seriously wounded.

Mr Gatt, 32, from Għaxaq, who had a history of theft and drug-related crimes, was found dead in a stolen Hyundai Accent, alongside Mr Zammit, 32, from Fgura. Both men were wearing gloves.

A third man, Joseph Cutajar, who was slightly injured, directed the police to the car, saying the men shot at him first while he was in his white BMW.

March 17, 2012

The same man, Joseph (Ġużeppi) Cutajar, known as Il-Lion, is charged with the murder of Mr Gatt and the attempted murder of Mr Zammit.
The 45-year-old from Marsascala, who pleaded not guilty, was also charged with stealing a weapon and ammunition from a residence in Żejtun in 2010.

April 11, 2012

Mr Zammit dies in hospital, the police saying he succumbed to his injuries. Mr Cutajar is subsequently accused of his murder. He is later released on bail.

October 2, 2012

A home-made bomb containing a kilo of explosive material is found under the Toyota pickup of Paul Degabriele near his Fgura flat. CCTV footage shows two hooded men near the vehicle.

December 12, 2012

Mr Cutajar is found shot dead in Mosta at 8.30am, a few hours after another man, Josef Grech, 41, from Balzan, Il-Yo Yo, is found dead with a shot in the head in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

Mr Grech 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.

December 13, 2012

Mr Degabriele, the target of October’s car bomb, is arrested in connection with Mr Cutajar’s murder. An unnamed second suspect is arrested the following day. Both are released without being charged.

May 31, 2013

Mr Degabriele is shot dead in Marsa in his pickup. Several shots are fired at him from a stolen white van as he is leaving a bar adjacent to the Enemalta customer care offices.

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