Imniehru murders | Father died of heart attack, not gunshots

Two court-appointed medical experts testifying in the murder of Mario Camilleri ‘l-Imniehru’ have independently reached the conclusion that the cause of death of the former convict was not from gunshot wounds, but a blood clot in the man’s coronary artery.

This emerged during the compilation of evidence against George and Jason Galea, who are charged with the 2013 murder of Mario Camilleri and his son Mario jnr.

Camilleri senior was allegedly shot twice in the head in a field at Tal-Qajjenza, limits of Birzebbugia. His 21-year-old son, who arrived soon after his father's murder, was also repeatedly hit with a loose tile found nearby and stabbed before being shot twice.

In a sitting held yesterday however, neurosurgeon Anthony Zrinzo presented a report on the holes in the elder Camilleri’s skull. He testified that the holes found in the skull of Mario Camilleri were possibly “burr holes” which had been made during a medical procedure a long time before death, so much so that they had begun to heal.

Furthermore, no entry wounds were reportedly found in the surrounding tissue, the holes being covered “mature scar tissue”.

Dr Zrinzo noted that while the holes were not normally placed, they may have been medically made to measure or relieve intracranial pressure.

The court heard how two autopsies were carried out on the body. The first, carried out by Dr Marie Therese Camilleri and Dr Ali Safraz concluded that a blood clot in the man’s coronary artery was the cause of death.

Dr Camilleri told the court that the second autopsy, carried out by pathologist Dr Bridget Ellul had also reached the same conclusion, but Dr Ellul has not yet testified.

Court expert Dr Mario Scerri had been appointed to investigate Mario Snr’s medical history and yesterday also reported to the court that he found that the victim had a history of chest pain and high blood pressure. He identified the blood clot as the cause of death. The cause of death of the younger Camilleri was established to have been blood loss from multiple wounds.

Lawyer Giannella Caruana Curran is defending George Galea, while lawyer Joe Giglio represented Jason Galea.  Police Inspectors Chris Pullicino, Fabian Fleri, Michael Mallia and Louise Calleja are prosecuting.