Two men found dead in Bahar ic-Caghaq, Mosta

Police are working on two seperate murder cases, one in Bahar ic-Caghaq and another in Mosta in the space of a few hours. Both men were shot dead.

In the first case, police are investigating the apparent execution of Josef Grech, 41 of Balzan, whose corpse was found early this morning in the area known as Qalet Marku, along the Coast Road in Bahar ic-Caghaq. Grech's body was discovered at around 3:30am by a hunter. He was said to have been covered in blood.

The victim, Josef Grech, was awaiting trial for complicity in the murder in 2004 of mini-van driver Patricia Attard. She was found dead in Ta' Qali.

Police said that they were treating the case as a homicide, given that Grech was found with a gunshot to the head and visible marks of a possible beating. His shoes were found some distance away from the corpse. 

Police officers guarding the scene where Josef Grech was found murdered early this morning in Bahar ic-Caghaq

Sources close to the investigation told MaltaToday that it was possible that Grech was taken to Bahar ic-Caghaq, and executed there after he was given a beating. 

Senior police investigators, led by homicide squad chief Inspector Keith Arnaud were on site, together with a number of forensic experts who were seen elevating evidence from the crime scene.

Meanwhile, Police were also called to investigate the cold-blooded murder of another man in Mill Street in Mosta at 8:30am - Joseph Cutajar, known as 'il-Lion', who was out on bail pending criminal proceedings after he was accused of the murder of Kevin Gatt, 32 of Ghaxaq and Stephen Zammit 32 of Fgura in Marsascala on 15 March. Cutajar was believed to have shot them in self-defence after they first shot at him in an underground complex of garages in Marsascala.

Sources said that the man was shot at point blank as he was stopped by an unidentified person who - according to a reconstruction - blocked the road as he drove through Mill Street after buying Super 5 lottery tickets from a nearby booth.

The victim stopped his Toyota Yaris car and attempted to flee, but was shot dead as soon as he opened the door and fell to the ground. The victim is said to have been shot at least twice in the face.

Witnesses said that they heard at least five shots amid scenes of panic from passers-by.