Witness Alfredo Attard today recounted to the court how the accused in the murder of convicted drug trafficker Mario Camilleri, and his son, also Mario, had beaten and stabbed the young Mario to death after shooting him.

Mr Camilleri Sr was shot dead in Marsaxlokk while his son was stabbed 34 times shortly afterwards.

They were buried in a shallow grave in Mr Attard’s field in Qajjenza, Birżebbuġa. Jason Galea and George Galea are charged with the murders.

Defence lawyers Joe Giglio, Giannella de Marco and Steve Tonna Lowell objected to Mr Attard being allowed to testify especially since the prosecution had argued he could not because of serious medical issues.

The court allowed the testimony.

Testifying, Mr Attard told the court Jason Galea had promised him Lm5,000 for the Camilleris to be killed and buried in his fields.

One day he told him that one of them was already in the ‘hole’. This had been originally dug for the foundations of a room, Mr Attard explained.

He said that about half an hour later, Leli d-Deffien walked in with Mario Jnr and he asked him to leave.

Later, Jason walked in with Mario Jnr. George Galea was hiding behind curtains. Mr Galea fired two shots but did not hit Mr Camilleri. Jason grabbed Mr Camilleri whom he and George hit repeatedly They got a knife from a room and stabbed so hard that the knife bent and broke, he said adding that he heard Mr Camilleri asking Jason to leave him alone.

As Mr Attard was testifying, Mr Camilleri’s mother left the court room looking emotional.

Mr Attard continued that the Galeas were hitting Camilleri with whatever they could find. They then put him in a wheelbarrow and Mr Attard said he told them to be careful not to break it.

When asked if he had done anything, he said he buried the corpses in about half a foot of soil.

Later, he said, Jason went to wash the van at the field but he asked him to leave.

He said the police retrieved a number of things from the field, including a watch which had belonged to Matthew Zahra (whose body had also been found at the field).

Replying to questions, Mr Attard said that about a year before the Camilleri murders, Jason had told him he was going to give him Lm2,000 to use his field to kill and bury Matthew.

He said that of the promised money, Jason had only paid Lm200, Lm100, Lm50, Lm20 and two separate payments of Lm10 each.

He said that during Matthew’s murder, Ronald Urry, (accused in the murder of Mr Zahra), hid under a wall and when Jason arrived in a white Skoda, he fired two shots.

When the shots were fired, he said he was under a carob tree in the same field.
Jason and Ronald took Matthew out of the car, searched his pockets and found a gold choker, which Jason took. He said he asked Jason for the rest of the money but never received anything.

Following the murder, Jason returned to his farm and Alfredo said he asked him to leave. He was later informed that Jason was seen entering his property when he was not there. He admitted to burning Matthew’s body and said he decided to keep his bones for the whole sin to be uncovered.

Asked by Dr de Marco he knew that the law had been amended before he testified, Mr Attard said he did not.

He said he was questioned on three occasions for 48 hours each time. During the last time, a lawyer told him that if he testified to put these people behind bars, no proceedings would be taken against him.

The case continues.