Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1147486
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 JULY 2019 3 NEWS SEGRETARJAT PARLAMENTARI GĦAL PERSUNI B'DIŻABILITÀ U ANZJANITÀ ATTIVA Premju għall-Kontribut Eċċezzjonali fid-Dimensja L-applikazzjonijiet tal-Premju Nazzjonali fil-Qasam tad-Dimensja jagħlqu nhar l-Erbgħa 7 t'Awwissu 2019. Premju Carer Informali Premju Professjonist / Tim fil-Qasam tad-Dimensja www.activeageing.gov.mt dementiaaward@gov.mt 2590 3173 P R E M J U NAZZJONALI F I L- Q ASA M CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The man is understood to have mu- tilated the woman's body, packed it in garbage bags and hid the remains in a se- cluded area in the bastions overlooking the former Phoenicia laundry. Woods told police that he had been in a relationship of sorts with Farrugia at the time, which could suggest a possible mo- tive. However, the sources said the facts surrounding the murder still had to be established. "The motive has to be established at this stage because the man was unclear in his narrative," the sources said. Forensic tests, including DNA analysis, have to establish whether the remains belong to Farrugia but investigators are almost certain they are the woman's giv- en the suspect's admission and the fact that he led police to the body. Woods was jailed for seven years after admitting to the hold-up of a shop in Gżira earlier this week. The woman went missing on 7 Novem- ber 2008 when her car was last recorded entering Valletta with no subsequent trace of it emerging from the capital. Investigators are now looking into the possibility that the grey Toyota Platz that belonged to Farrugia may have been scrapped. Sources excluded the possibil- ity of the car having been dumped in the sea around Valletta and are believed to be talking to "someone". It may have last been driven into the capital by Woods on his way to dispose of the body remains. Investigators are still looking for a mur- der weapon. "Woods has not yet elabo- rated on how the murder was perpetrat- ed," the sources said. Facts surrounding murder still to be established, sources say KURT SANSONE WITH Adrian Delia facing a vote of confidence on Saturday, his detractors are trying to answer the key question of what happens if the Nationalist Party leader loses. In a three-step explainer on the Face- book page PN Mill-Ġdid Rebbieħ, Delia's opponents foresee the appointment of an acting leader to oversee the transition towards the election of a new leader. Delia's opponents are insisting the po- litical reform entrusted to party grandee Louis Galea will continue for the next 12 months as planned. "There are enough competent people to contest when a new leadership elec- tion is called," the group is insisting. The question what happens next, is a pertinent one that has been making the rounds among PN councillors and mem- bers. Removing Delia without a concrete succession plan has been one of the ma- jor failures of the leader's detractors. But as Saturday's vote looms, Delia's supporters and detractors have not spared the punches in public. In an opinion piece on Times of Malta on Tuesday, Louise Tedesco reserved strong language for Delia's opponents, describing them as the "Barra Brigade". Tedesco did not mince her words, ac- cusing Delia's foes of pushing the idea that the PN's troubles started when he was elected leader by the party grass- roots. She highlighted the "flawed decisions" taken in the past by some of those who now oppose Delia, insisting that at the time people like her who disagreed "did not rally publicly against the leadership of the party". Tedesco also hit a raw nerve when she pointed out that the Barra Brigade per- sonalised every issue by targeting indi- viduals rather than being critical of insti- tutions. "I am against all those who abuse their position and there is no doubt in my mind that the core of our government is rotten. Having said that, I do not believe that the role of the PN is to send people to prison. That is the role of the police, the courts of justice and other state in- stitutions. The role of the PN is to ensure that these institutions carry out their work without fear or favour, something which they have failed to do," Tedesco said. The statement was a clear reference to the anti-corruption drive of the previous PN administration that culminated with repeated calls for the police commis- sioner and the Attorney General to be removed and the Prime Minister and his wife to be sent to prison. 'Barra, barra', was an infamous cry by former leader Simon Busuttil during an anti-corruption meeting in Valletta. But Tedesco accused Delia's opponents of continuously undermining the party, delivering death by a thousand cuts. Delia's opponents have been calling on councillors to deliver a fresh start on Sat- urday by voting out the leader. They insist Delia cannot win the next election and should be replaced. The same Facebook page has for the past days been uploading a map of Malta and Gozo depicting the last local elec- tion results that were disastrous for the PN. Delia is the first PN leader to be elected by members after the previous adminis- tration changed the rules to allow for a wider voting base. Delia was elected in September 2017 but has so far failed to inspire trust and deliver change within the PN. He has had to contend with a continu- ous rebellion by some in the parliamen- tary group, who remain opposed to his leadership. How Adrian Delia's vote of confidence is shaping up Acting leaders and the 'Barra' Brigade Adrian Delia is the first PN leader to be elected by party members