The wife of murdered drug trafficker Mario Camilleri reluctantly consented to his body being exhumed on Tuesday to allow investigators to look for further evidence that could convict his killers.

“The police inspector called me and told me they had to exhume him to conduct more investigations. I called my lawyer who said I should allow them.

“I would like to be present when they bury him again. I want to ensure that all is as I left it and that he is buried properly,” said 41-year-old Mona Camilleri, who is seven months pregnant.

Yesterday, timesofmalta.com reported that the body of Mr Camilleri, known as L-Imnieħru, was exhumed on Tuesday to settle a conflict between investigators and medical examiners on the cause of his death.

The story of the exhumation was meant to be printed on yesterday’s front page of Times of Malta. However, due to a technical error, an item entitled Hunt For Second Double Murder Suspect was printed by mistake. The item had already appeared in The Sunday Times of Malta.

Times of Malta apologises unreservedly for the error and for any inconvenience caused.

Mr Camilleri, 51, and his 21-year-old son, Mario Jnr, were buried on Saturday, less than 36 hours after they were discovered partly buried in a shallow grave in a field in Qajjenza, Birżebbuġa.

Since then, two men have been charged over the double murder. Ms Camilleri’s brother, 38-year-old Jason Galea, was arraigned on Friday and was followed on Tuesday by George Galea, 41.

According to the police, Mario Jnr was shot and stabbed 34 times.

There are still question marks over what caused the death of his father. The police said they had independent declarations that Mr Camilleri died after he was shot at and, in fact, proceeded with charges on that basis.

However, pathologists are insisting that the bullet that hit Mr Camilleri probably only grazed his head and did not penetrate the skull, which means he would not have died from the shot. Instead, they put forward the theory that he may have died from a heart attack.

As a result, inquiring Magistrate Doreen Clark has requested a second opinion through a re-examination of the body.

Police sources said the speed with which the two men were buried was very unusual.

Investigators acted quickly on the case, partly on the basis of intelligence surrounding the family, which was well known to the police, and on the basis of declarations that were extracted during the probe.

Divergent views on the cause of death made the quick release of the body for burial all the more unusual, the sources said.

More facts surrounding the case are expected to emerge during the compilation of evidence against the accused that starts on Wednesday before Magistrate Anthony Micallef Trigona.

Jason Galea is also facing a third murder charge together with George Galea’s half-brother, Ronald Urry.

They were charged with the murder of Matthew Zahra, who went missing last year.

Human remains believed to belong to Mr Zahra were found in the Qajjenza field when the police were investigating the murder of the Camilleris.

The case will start being heard before Magistrate Edwina Grima on Monday.