Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/807528
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post PAGE 9 • Editorial WEDNESDAY • 5 APRIL 2017 • ISSUE 516 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PAGE 2 Father and son arraigned over Hamrun murder MATTHEW AGIUS A father and son were yesterday arraigned in court over the murder of Brandon Pace, known as 'Galalli', which took place on Sunday night in Hamrun. Kurt Grech, known as 'in-Nemes', and his 53-year-old father, Joseph Grech of Guardamangia, were arraigned yesterday afternoon before Magistrate Monica Vella on charges that include wilful homicide and carrying a knife in public without a police permit. Kurt Grech is also being charged with having attempted to grievously injure Jes- sica Bilocca, his ex-girlfriend, who was now in a relationship with Pace. Accord- ing to media reports, Grech and Bilocca have a son together and the argument between Grech and the victim centred around the little boy. Joseph Grech is also charged with threat- ening the victim's sister with a knife. The men, who were accompanied in the courtroom by several family members, have denied responsibility for the man's death and pleaded not guilty to the charg- es. Their lawyer, Roberto Montalto, did not contest the validity of the men's arrest. Approaching the bench, the lawyers and prosecuting officers discussed where the accused men would be held pending trial for security. The defence did not request bail at this stage, but reserved the right to do so after the inquiry is closed and before the end of the compilation of evidence. It requested that the accused be held at Mount Carmel Hospital for reasons of health and security. The prosecution did not object to this request. Kurt Grech (left) and his father Joseph Grech (Photos: James Bianchi/MediaToday) PAGE 2 ODZ shopping mall proposed in Marsaskala Disused 10,000 square metre quarry opposite Family Park earmarked for commercial development, including shopping mall, restaurants and offices JAMES DEBONO A long disused 9,750 m2 quarry opposite the Marsaskala Family Park is being proposed for massive commercial development includ- ing retail outlets, a drive thru take away, offices and restaurants. The development includes a basement carpark, a 3,080 m2 commercial outlet and 748 m2 restaurant and a 330 m2 drive th- ru at ground floor level, 2,080 m2 of offices at the first floor level and a landscaped roof. The development located out- side development zone, opposite the family park and the sewage recycling plant is being proposed by Ephriam Schembri who owns the site. The PA is also considering an application for a petrol station on an open undeveloped field on Sant'Antnin Road, opposite the re- cycling plant. Environmental NGO Nature Trust has already objected to the redevelopment of the long dis- used quarry, which operated be- fore 1968 arguing that the quarry should be rehabilitated to its natu- ral state by planting with trees and shrubs. Nature Trust insists that such an application would lead to urban sprawl especially in view of the fact that a large part of Zonqor has already been given up for the de- velopment of the American Uni- versity campus. The proposed commercial centre (inset) will be located opposite the family park