Mona Camilleri. Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

A woman’s request to be paid back half of her brother’s €30,000 deposit to the courts as bail in a double murder case was yesterday rejected by a criminal court, which said it was civil matter.

In her application, Mona Camilleri said the money deposited by Jason Galea, who is accused of killing her husband and son, came from a cleaning business in which they were partners.

Half the money was hers, she claimed, asking the court to order that her share be returned.

But Mr Justice David Scicluna ruled that this was a civil matter and the criminal court was not the appropriate forum to make this request.

Mr Galea is accused of murdering Mario Camilleri, L-Imnieħru, and his 21-year-old son Mario Jr on July 17, 2013.

He also stands charged with killing taxi driver Matthew Zahra a year earlier.

Mr Galea paid €30,000 in cash to be released on bail in the case of the Camilleris’ murder and funded the other €30,000 needed for the Zahra case by using property as collateral.

Despite granting bail, the court ordered he should remain under house arrest and sign the bail book twice a day.