The brother-in-law of a murder victim said in court yesterday he was torn between his brother, accused of the killing, and his widowed sister.

Charles Galea’s brother, Jason, is charged with murdering Mario Camilleri, l-Imnieħru, his son Mario Jr and a third man, Matthew Zahra.

“It is like a double-edged knife. On the one hand I have my brother and on the other my sister, the widow,” Charles Galea said, describing how the murders led to a rift within the family.

The fact the owner of the field has not testified is absurd

The bodies of all three men were found buried in shallow graves in a field in Birżebbuġa last July. Mr Camilleri Snr was shot and his son was stabbed about 34 times before also being shot.

A small part of Mr Zahra’s leg was found after he was killed in summer 2012.

Charles Galea said Jason had asked to use one of his cars, a Skoda Felicia. His brother used it for a few days and then left it in Birżebbuġa, behind the parish church. The sun visors were missing and the radio was partially removed. His brother gave him €100 to repair the damage, Mr Galea said.

The police believe Mr Zahra might have been killed in the Skoda because Mona Camilleri, Mario’s widow, told them that her niece, Krystal – Charles Galea’s daughter – had told her that was what had happened.

Mr Galea told the court that the community he formed part of was shocked that his brother had been charged with the murders because he was such a nice man. The family were known in Valletta as one that would be willing to step in should anybody need help, he said.

His wife, Doris, said that she, Charles and Krystal would go to Mass with Jason and his wife at St Julian’s church every Saturday before driving to Birżebbuġa for drinks.

They would go to the Labour Party club. A “black fancy car” would turn up and Jason would speak to the driver. On returning, Jason would tell them it was someone picking up salaries for work done for the cleaning company he ran with Mr Camilleri.

At the end of the sitting, lawyer Joseph Giglio, representing Mr Galea, told Magistrate Edwina Grima that the fact that witness Alfred Attard, the owner of the Birżebbuġa field where the bodies were found, had not testified was absurd.

Police Inspectors Louise Calleja and Fabian Fleri said that a decision on whether Mr Attard should be charged had still to be taken.

Dr Giglio was quick to note that seven months had passed since the find and a decision was needed.

The case continues.