Missing mother and daughter reportedly killed by son

Two women who were reported missing last Tuesday were found dead by the police in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Marija Lourdes Bonnici and her daughter Angele Bonnici found shot and partially buried in a field on the outskirts of Gudja following a police search on Friday night.

The two women were last seen at 7am on the 26 March at their residence in Ghaxaq and were reported missing on Wednesday afternoon.

Police sources who spoke to MaltaToday said Marija Lourdes’ son had been arrested in connection with the case, and was believed to have committed the murder.

They two women's corpses were found after a search of the rural area between Santa Lucija and Gudja, undertaken after various individuals were questioned by the police. A family member is reported to have provided the police with information, leading to the discovery of the bodies.

Investigators said it did not appear as though the two women were killed at the location their bodies were found.

A magisterial inquiry, led by magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo, has been appointed.

The murder is not the first instance of violent crime in the Bonnici family. Maria Lourdes’ husband, Paul had been jailed for 31 years in 2005 after being found guilty of shooting and killing his neighbours Joseph and Carmela Dalli.

The man had regularly argued with his neighbours and, on May 2000, shot the couple outside their home.

During the trial, the court was informed that Paul Bonnici had reloaded his gun and shot the two in the head at point-blank range.

The police had gone to the next-door house, where Bonnici was found waiting with a shotgun containing two spent cartridges.