Prosecution requests reburial of l-Imniehru, lawyer says key evidence was ‘probably stolen’

Lawyer representing murdered taxi driver Matthew Zahra’s family says key piece of evidence in compilation of evidence against Jason Galea and Ronald Urry was ‘probably stolen’

A gold chain said to have been worn by Matthew Zahra on the day he went wissing
A gold chain said to have been worn by Matthew Zahra on the day he went wissing "probably stolen"

The prosecution in the murder case of taxi driver Matthew Zahra has today called on the court not to object to the reburial of 51-year-old Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru, after his body was exhumed to determine “his exact cause of death”.

The request was made this morning during the compilation of evidence against Jason Galea and Ronald Urry who are pleading not guilty to the murder of 27-year-old, Valletta-born taxi driver Matthew Zahra. Alongside his half-brother George Galea, Jason Galea is also charged with the murder of l-Imniehru, and his 21-year-old son Mario Camilleri Jnr.

The court heard that on 23 July, a Magistrate had ordered that Mario Camilleri’s body be exhumed after pathologists and police investigators objected to the cause of death. The pathologists believe that while he may have been shot at, it was not the bullet that killed him since it did not penetrate the skull. The prosecution however insists Camilleri was fatally shot.

“After Camilleri’s body was exhumed, investigators carried out an analysis on his skull to correctly determine the cause of the death. The court expert will now testify during the murder case of Mario Camilleri and his son, and then the prosecution is expected to request the reburial of Mario Camilleri.”

Inspector Chris Pullicino told the court that the cases are “amalgamated” most pertinently due to the fact that the Camilleri’s bodies and Zahra’s bag of bones were allegedly unearthed together, and due to the fact that Jason Galea is charged with both murders. Consequently, Inspector Pullicino said, the prosecution is requesting that this court does not object to the reburial of Mario Camilleri.

On her part, presiding Magistrate Josette Demicoli said the court had no objection to the prosecution’s request.

Lawyer Stefano Filletti, who is appearing in parte civile for the Zahra family, reiterated the plea for the court to make available one shoe that was unearthed during the discovery of the buried remains and is said to have belonged to Zahra.

The shoe – which Zahra’s partner has requested to confirm that the remains actually belong to Zahra – was found alongside another key piece of evidence that could tie the bag of bones to Matthew Zahra: a gold chain which is said to have been worn by Zahra himself on the day he was reported missing.

However, the gold chain – which the parte civile has also requested the court to make this available – has gone missing during police investigations. Standing before Magistrate Josette Demicoli, Dr Filletti told the court that this was “probably stolen,” and that the whereabouts of the said necklace are of “paramount importance.”

On his part, court appointed expert Richard Aquilina presented a report of the plan where the bodies of Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru, 51, and his 21-year-son Mario Jnr were discovered. He also explained that during the search on 23 July 2013, investigators also unearthed a bag of bones buried under a pile of manure in the field – which bag of bones is believed to pertain to 27-year-old Matthew Zahra who was reported missing in August 2012.

Inspector Chris Pullicino is leading the prosecution, while Lawyers Joe Giglio and Franco Debono are defence counsel. Lawyer Stefano Filletti is appearing in parte civile.