Witness Alfredo Attard recounted to the court today how he was promised €5,000 by the accused Jason Galea to widen the hole where 27-year-old Matthew Zahra of Valletta was buried because he wanted to bury three more people.
Jason Galea, 39, of Marsa and Ronald Urry, 49, of Paola are pleading not guilty to the murder of Mr Zahra who was reported missing in August 2012. His body was found buried in Mr Attard’s field in Birzebbuga a year later.
Mr Attard told the court today Mr Galea, who he had got to know at the Labour Party club, had told him he was going to kill Mr Zahra and that he would pay him €2,000.
He gave him €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €10 and 10 days later told him "they were going to do it". Mr Urry and Mr Galea, Mr Attard said, arrived at his farm in a white Skoda and Mr Urry hid in a bush, leaving Mr Galea in the car.
Mr Galea left and returned with Mr Zahra. He parked opposite where Mr Urry was hiding and got out as Mr Urry shot Mr Zahra twice.
Mr Attard said he saw the murder being committed. Mr Galea returned to the car and drove it near a hole that had been dug to lay the foundation for stables that were not built.
He said that Mr Urry and Mr Galea pulled Mr Zahra out of the car and Mr Urry took a gold necklace from around his neck but Mr Galea asked him to put it back.
They placed thd body inside the hole and covered it with soil.
Mr Attard said he kept asking for money but later stopped. Mr Galea then began entering his farm without permission and told him that he wanted the body moved. Mr Attard replied he would move the body when he wanted to.
When he eventually did, he burnt what was left of the flesh and said he kept the bones so that the sin could eventually be brought to light.
At this point Mr Galea began raising his voice and claiming that the witness was lying.
Mr Attard continued that Mr Galea started asking him to widen the hole because he wanted to bury three more people. He offered him €5,000 for the job but did not pay any deposit.
Mr Attard said he accepted the deal.
Some time later, in June, Mr Attard was in hospital. When he was discharged and returned to the farm he heard a van pulling up. Mr Attard said he did not know that a body had already been buried in the hole and he saw Leli id-Deffien, who he had met two or three times before, entering the farm with Mario Camilleri Jr in a car.
Mr Camilleri and his father, also Mario were killed last July 17 and found buried in Mr Attard’s field, close to where Mr Zahra’s remains were unearthed.
Mr Attard said he told them to get out. Although they left, Mr Galea, who is also charged with the murder of the Camilleris, returned later with Mr Camilleri Jr.
Mr Attard said George Galea, the other accused in the murder of the Camilleris, was hiding behind a curtain in the room where he slept. From there, he fired two shots at Mr Camilleri Jr.
He missed, Mr Camilleri Jr started to run but Mr (Jason) Galea began hitting and beating him.
Mr (George) Galea joined in, breaking a flick knife on Mr Camilleri Jr. They also hit him with floor tiles.
Mr Attard said he heard Mr Camilleri Jr telling Mr (Jason) Galea to leave him alone. They then buried him on top of his father.
Mr (Jason) Galea said that he was going to get another person and asked him (Mr Attard) to get someone to help. The Galeas then gave him a watch and a pistol.