The police are closely examining footage taken from security cameras to establish whether the killers of a man in Marsa got out of the car before opening fire.
The footage was taken from a number of closed circuit cameras along Triq ix-Xemxija where Joseph Galea, known as Ġużi il-Ġilda, was gunned down early on Tuesday morning as he sat in his car outside his apartment.
Investigators told Times of Malta they were looking for a large vehicle, an SUV, they believed was used by the killers in the murder of the 58-year-old man.
The police are also trying to establish whether the car had been parked, waiting for the victim to exit the building.
The killers, believed to be two men, opened fire on Mr Galea’s grey Kia Sorrento at about 5am. Around 20 bullets were fired, five hitting Mr Galea in his upper back, fatally wounding him.
The automatic weapon used is believed to be a .762 calibre assault rifle. Ballistic tests are being carried out to establish whether the weapon had been used before in another crime.
Sources said Mr Galea had filed a police report several months ago that he had received a death threat.
Investigators spoke to a number of people yesterday including neighbours and family members. The apartment and vehicles belonging to Mr Galea were searched by the police.
During a crime conference on Tuesday, the police appealed to anyone who might have any information about the killing or about a vehicle parked in the area at about 4.45am to contact them confidentially on 119.
Paul Degabriele murder probe
The police are still investigating what is believed to be the contract killing of Paul Degabriele, is-Suldat, who was shot dead at close range in broad daylight just outside Sammy’s Bar in Marsa last May. His assailant walked up to the vehicle as Mr Degabriele and a friend got in and shot him three times in the head and twice in the upper body with a 9mm pistol.
Six months before his death, Mr Degabriele had been arrested in connection with the murder of 45-year-old 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’s case bears some resemblance to the murder of 49-year-old car dealer Raymond Agius, who was shot dead at point blank range in 2008. His killer entered a Birkirkara bar wearing a crash helmet, walked straight to the victim, who was having coffee, and shot him in the head with a pistol before escaping with an accomplice on a motorcycle.