Man accused of taxi driver's murder claims three bombs are unaccounted for

One of the men accused of murdering taxi driver Matthew Zahra in August 2012, has suggested that explosive devices that had been stored in the victim’s garage are unaccounted for, telling a court they may have been used in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

41-year-old Jason Galea, of Birzebbuga, and Ronald Urry, 49, of Paola, are charged with luring the taxi driver to a field in Birzebbugia before shooting him dead. Galea had told police that Zahra was blackmailing him with an incriminating photograph that Zahra claimed would destroy Galea's marriage.

Zahra’s remains were found buried in the same field in which the bodies of Mario Camilleri, known by his nickname l-‘Imniehru’, and his son Mario were discovered, after they were murdered in July 2013.

The compilation of evidence continued. Men appeared in court unassisted this morning, with Galea asking for a legal aid lawyer to be appointed, as his previous counsel “doesn’t want to speak to me.”

Galea then asked to address the prosecuting police inspector, Fabian Fleri.

“Mario, with Matthew’s permission, kept three bombs in his garage. Have any investigations been carried out?” He suggested that the explosives were still in circulation and may have been used in Caruana Galizia's murder.

“We know what just happened. The bombs are still running around.”

Galea claimed to have gone to the police headquarters to speak to the inspector about the explosives but had been directed to an underling and had not been sent for since.

Magistrate Josette Demicoli attempted to explain to the accused that this was not the way things work and that the Inspector could not legally send for him without his lawyer being present and neither could he do so seeking information, which was not connected to the case in which he was accused.

He insisted that he wanted to speak to the inspector. “You know that two days ago a woman was killed by a bomb, right?”

The case continues in November, by which time the legal representation issue is expected to have been overcome.

Dr Stefano Filleti appeared parte civile for the Zahra family.