Kalashnikov murder: man was struck by six bullets

Police still have no suspect in the murder of 54-year-old Raymond Caruana, who was hit by six bullets – two of which were found lodged in his lungs – fired with a Kalashnikov on Friday evening.

Sources said investigators have spoken to several people over the murder but still had no “clear picture” of who was behind the gangster-style assassination.

Mr Caruana, who had a criminal profile with the police, was found dead after he was gunned down outside a farmhouse in Buskett Road, limits of Żebbuġ.

Mr Caruana was reversing his car out of the drive when he was killed at around 9.20pm.

He had just left after meeting his girlfriend at the farmhouse, which is heavily monitored by closed-circuit cameras. She heard the shots and ran out to find a bloodied Mr Caruana on the ground.

Police believe the killer was waiting outside the farmhouse, hidden in the long grass. Almost 24 hours after the shooting, a burnt Opel Corsa, which had been stolen last September, was found in a field at Tal-Virtù in Rabat. Inside was the Kalashnikov AK-47.

Bullet shells found at the murder scene corresponded to those used by the same type of weapon. The assault rifle had a special magazine that carried 50 rounds instead of the standard 30 bullets, raising suspicions it may have come from conflict-ridden Libya.

Bullets were sprayed at the car, with six hitting Mr Caruana in vital spots such as his chest, face and hands and legs. An autopsy carried out yesterday revealed three of the six bullets went right through his body, two remained lodged in his lungs and one grazed him.

In December 2012, Mr Caruana had been accused – together with Sandro Psaila – of attempting to bribe the former late Judge Ray Pace to influence the outcome of a sentence in which drug trafficker Darren Desira was jailed for 18 years and fined €46,000. The case is still ongoing.