Drug baron Mario Camilleri, known as L-Imniehru, died of a heart attack caused by a blood clot and not from gunshot wounds, a court heard today. 

Testifying in the case against two men charged with killing Mr Camilleri and his son Mario, two medical experts said the two holes found in Mr Camilleri Snr's skull were not fresh as scar tissue had already grown, indicating they were old wounds. No bullets were found and neither was there any evidence of gunshots to the head. 

They were testifying in the compilation of evidence against Jason Galea, 40, of Birżebbuġa and George Galea, 42, of St Julian’s, who are denying brutally murdering the convicted drug trafficker and his 21-year-old son Mario Jr whose bodies were found in a field in Birżebbuġa in July 2013. 

Neurosurgeon Antoine Zrinzo and forensic expert Mario Scerri were summoned to testify after the court asked the former to examine two holes found in Mr Camilleri Snr's skull during the second autopsy after his body had been exhumed while the latter was asked to relate on his medical history and the outcome of the second autopsy. 

Mr Zrinzo testified that the holes found in the skull were possibly “burr holes” which had been made a long time before death, so much so that they had begun to heal. Moreover, no entry wounds were found in the skin, with the holes covered by “mature scar tissue”. 

Mr Zrinzo noted that the holes could have been the result of a medical procedure to test intra-cranial pressure, although they were not in the place usually used for this kind of procedure. 

Dr Scerri said the second autopsy confirmed the conclusions of the first one: that Mr Camilleri Snr died of a heart attack caused by a blood clot in his coronary artery. 

The court heard that the second autopsy was carried out by expert Bridgette Ellul, who is yet to testify on her findings. 

Dr Scerri said that according to the medical history file he had examined, Mr Camilleri Snr had a history of chest pain and high blood pressure and had visited the hospital on numerous occasions to be tested and treated for these ailments. 

He said the cause of death of Mr Camilleri Jnr was blood loss due to multiple wounds. 

The case, that is being heard by Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona, continues. 

Lawyer Giannella de Marco is appearing for George Galea while lawyer Joe Giglio is representing Jason Galea. 

 

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