10 years ago - The Times

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Man found dead in oven

A young man was found dead by his father in an industrial oven in a macabre incident that the police are treating as the first murder of the year. Gaetano Romano was discovered by his father Nicola in a Buġibba garage on Thursday night, a day after his 20th birthday. 

The grim find came after Nicola, who was abroad, had made several failed attempts to contact his son. According to neighbours, Mr Romano, an Italian who has lived in Malta for several years, flew back because he got worried that his son was not answering the phone. When he did not find Gaetano at home, he forced open the door to his garage in Damascus Street, which is used as a workshop, and discovered the badly charred body of his son in the furnace at about 9pm. 

The police confirmed that a lifeless body had been found in an industrial oven and that it was extensively burnt. However, the autopsy held yesterday was inconclusive as to the cause of death. 

Reports that six nails were shot into the young man’s head could not be confirmed. Neighbours said they saw Gaetano’s father crying and banging on a low wall near the garage on Thursday night.

25 years ago - The Times

Monday, April 4, 1994

Drug overdose suspected in Rabat man’s death

Police investigating the death yesterday of a 23-year-old Rabat man, suspect he died of a drug overdose.

If confirmed in an autopsy today, it would be the third death of its kind this year.

The young man is believed to have died while he was on his way home.

The police, who did not release his name, received a tip-off at about 12.30am, saying a man was “lying” unconscious in Doni Street.

Magistrate Dr Antonio Mizzi held an on-site inquiry.

65 firms with foreign equity investment given go-ahead

Sixty-five new companies with foreign participation were authorised to be set up in Malta last year.

According to official information, they had an authorised share capital of Lm6.8 million. Twenty-eight of the companies were in manufacturing, accounting for 55.8 per cent of the non-resident paid-up share capital.

Much of the investment was expected to involve firms in the machinery and equipment and non-metals sectors.

Half a century ago - Times of Malta

Saturday, April 5, 1969

£1m Gozo hospital

The Government has issued a notice to Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering contractors, informing them of its intention to issue a call for tenders for the construction of the Victoria General Hospital in Gozo.

Separate calls for tenders will be issued for the construction of the hospital, electrical engineering installation, including lifts, and the mechanical engineering installation.

The 350-bed hospital, which will cost about £1,000,000, will be built at Ta’ l-Ibraġ, about half a mile from Victoria. 

Libyan students tour Drydocks

The art students from the University of Libya, who are here on a week’s educational visit, on Thursday afternoon visited Malta Drydocks. 

The students, led by Prof. Hadi Bu Leugma, were shown round a number of workshops, including the machine shop. At No. 4 dock, they saw ’Yard employees at work on the Esso Spain, a tanker which operates from Libya.

Note: The Times of Malta of April 4, 1969, was not published, it being Good Friday.