The owner of a field in Birzebbuga told the police that he burnt the body of missing Matthew Zahra at the request of one of the men being accused of his murder, Jason Galea.
Inspector Fabian Fleri spoke on the information given by farmer Alfredo Attard during the compilation of evidence against Jason Galea, 39, of Birżebbuġa and Ronald Urry, 49, of Paola.
They stand accused of killing Mr Zahra as well as Mario Camilleri (l-Imniehru) and his son, Mario.
Inspector Fleri said he had questioned Emmanuel Farrugia, known as id-Deffien who told him he had last seen the Camilleris in a field in Birzebbuga.
The police went to the field and as they approached could smell the stench of a decaying bodies.
They sifted the soil and a heap of manure and found four fingers of a hand.
When the forensics experts arrived, the search continued, and they found two male bodies buried on top of each other facing opposite directions. Insp. Fleri said he could not recognise the faces but identified them through their clothes and tattoos. (They were the two Camilleris)
The following day, the inspector said he was informed that the bone of a foot was also found in the the vicinity that could belong to Mr Zahra.
Mr Farrugia had told the police that the owner of the field, Alfredo Attard knew that Jason Galea would often be in the field.
Further investigations revealed that Mr Attard knew Mr Galea for several years. He (Galea) had offered Mr Attard €5000 to dig a hole to bury two if not three people in the field.
Mario Camilleri (Snr) was taken dead in a van and placed in the hole. Mario Camilleri, (his son) was taken to the site alive despite having been shot twice or three times.
Mr Galea and Mr Urry stabbed him at the entrance of a nearby farmhouse. They put him in the Peugeot van, took him tot he field and buried him with his father. Mr Attard covered the bodies.
The police went to the farmhouse in Birzebbuga and, wedged next to a wall there was a paper bag with a Glock 17 pistol with 9mm bullets, cartridges, cigarettes, black watch, and a dual sim phone.
Mr Attard showed him where Mario Camilleri jr was killed and said he cleaned up everything and put everything in the a paper bag.
Investigations revealed that the knife had been used to kill Mr Camilleri jr.
On July 21 the police were about to release Mr Attard on police bail when he informed them that on August 15 he had buried another person and had been told to do so by Jason Galea.
Ronald Urry, known as Il-lira hid next to a rubble wall and when Mr Galea arrived in a white Skoda with Mr Zahra inside. Mr Galea parked close to the rubble wall so that Mr Zahra could not get out from the passenger side.
Mr Urry then shot Mr Zahra through the car window. They then moved the car and put the dead body in the hole.
Mr Attard told the police that he was never paid other than for a small amount.
He also said that Jason Galea often contacted him and told him to exhume and burn Mr Zahra's body. He burnt the body in a petrol tank.
However, as insurance, he kept some bones.
The case continues.