Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/358967
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 6 AuguSt 2014 News Daniel Mizzi Forensic officials and scene of the crime officers sifted through 88 tonnes of soil in a bid to locate the bones of murdered convicted drug trafficker Mario camilleri 'l-imnie- hru', and his son, Mario Jnr. The information was given yester- day during the testimony of scene of the crime officer raymond cas- sar who was summonsed to testify against half-brothers Jason Galea and George Galea in the compila- tion of evidence against them. George Galea, 41, of st Julian's, and Mario camilleri's brother-in- law Jason Galea, 39 of Birzebbugia, are pleading not guilty to the dou- ble murder of the 51-year-old Mario camilleri, and his 21-year-old son. Jason Galea is also pleading not guilty to the murder of Valletta taxi driver Matthew Zahra whose bones were allegedly unearthed during the search for the bodies of the camill- eris. The bodies of l-imniehru and his son were found partially buried un- der a pile of cow manure in a field in tal-Qajjenza, limits of Birzebbu- gia in August last year. During the search, police officials had also un- earthed a bag of bones, purportedly of taxi driver Zahra. inspector raymond cassar from the Forensic department testified that investigators had divided the field, and then proceeded to sift through the soil to check for bones. "Ballistics experts and scene of the crime officers sifted through 88 tonnes of soil in search of the bones. The search started from the place where the bodies of l-imniehru and his son were partially buried to a room in the field which was alleg- edly used to burn things," he said. Lawyer Joe Brincat, appearing in parte civile for the victim's wife, Mona, requested that the court re- leases her husband's body for burial, arguing that the delay is causing his client considerable grief and psy- chological upset. inspector James Grech told the court that after Mario camilleri snr's funeral and subsequent burial, a dispute arose between pathologists and investigators as to what caused his death. investigators had alleged that the 51-year-old died due to a gunshot to his head, while patholo- gists had argued that he might have died as a result of a heart attack. Faced with these different versions – whose outcome may influence any punishment – Magistrate edwina Grima had ordered that the corpse be removed for more forensic tests. "After an autopsy was carried out and after Mario camilleri's burial, a magisterial inquiry had ordered police to dig out Mario camilleri's body from the Addolorata cemetery for further examinations," inspec- tor Grech said. Ballistics expert and former briga- dier Maurice calleja told the court that Mario camilleri Jnr suffered two shots to the head, and one in his chest. He was also stabbed re- peatedly – believed to be around 34 times in total. "Four shots were fired from a 0.25 calibre semi automatic gun. Two of these shots hit his head, while other shots hit camilleri's chest." "several other cartridges and bul- let heads which were fired from the same gun were also found at the field. Further bullets were found in a garbage bag, and another one near the field," calleja said. in his testimony, calleja also un- derlined that the bullets were all fired from the same gun, and that another found nearby had no part in the shooting of the victims. Lawyer Gianella de Marco is rep- resenting Jason Galea, while lawyer Joe Giglio is appearing for George Galea. Lawyer Joe Brincat is appear- ing in parte civile for Mario camill- eri's wife. 24 Police sifted through 88 tonnes of soil in search of imniehru's bones Establishing cause of death may influence punishment