Accused in Baħrija murders was sorry for victim's dog - police inspector

The man accused of July's double murder in Baħrija told the police that he was sorry for the dog of one of the victims, but he would probably have shot any relatives of the victims had they turned up on the scene, a police inspector testified on Tuesday.

Karmenu (Carmelo) Ciantar, 72 known as Id-Durga, stands accused of the fatal shooting of Dennis Mifsud, 51, and Anthony Agius, 57 on July 29. He is pleading not guilty.

Police inspector Wayne Camilleri testified that he went to the scene and then joined the search for Ciantar, whom relatives named as the suspect. He was present for Ciantar’s arrest at Pama parking lot where the accused told the officers that his plan was to shoot himself after eating at KFC.

They found the murder weapon on the backseat of his car, with Ciantar telling them to be careful because it was loaded.

Ciantar also told them that he suspected that he had Covid, which was later confirmed by a medical test.

Before he was taken to the lock-up, Ciantar was medically examined and certified fit for interrogation.

Victims shot at close range

Camilleri testified briefly about the post-mortem examination of the two victims, explaining that the two men were shot at very close range. 

Mifsud was shot in the face and some of the lead pellets ended in his brain while Agius suffered three shots – two in the abdominal area and one in his head.

During his interrogation, Ciantar claimed that his then partner Agnes, who is Mifsud’s mother, and Agius’ mother-in-law, was “defending her relatives” in a dispute over a plot of land which she owned but authorised Ciantar to make use of. That morning, they had argued and Ciantar left, taking his gun with him. He spent the whole morning at the field.

Some time in the afternoon, Mifsud drove by, Ciantar told the police. He shot him dead.  “Dennis did not know what hit him,” he told the officers.

An hour and a half later, Agius pulled up and after he got out of the car,  Ciantar shot him three times.

Sorry for victim's dog

Ciantar told the police that he felt sorry for Agius’ dog and put a sheet over the second victim.

Camilleri said the police asked Ciantar what he would have done had more relatives turned up, to which Ciantar replied that he would probably have shot them too.

He also confirmed that he set a shed on fire, because he did not want anyone to enjoy the tools and machinery that he had bought.

Lawyer Franco Debono asked why Ciantar was not seen by a psychiatrist since he had threatened to die by suicide.

Camilleri explained that Ciantar told them his plan “had failed” upon his arrest. Moreover, the medical doctor who examined him did not feel the need for examination by a psychiatrist before the interrogation.

The defence suggested that Agnes’s family had “mistreated” Ciantar over a long time, to which Camilleri replied that this had not come out from the investigation and there were no such reports.

The police inspector confirmed that there were two versions as to who started the morning argument. Ciantar claimed it was Agnes Mifsud, while she claimed the contrary.

'Strong evidence' Ciantar had fired the shots

A forensic scientist also testified on Tuesday. Matthew Grima, who was appointed by the inquiring magistrate, took swabs from Ciantar and his vehicle. The results showed that there were 67 particles of gunshot residue on Ciantar, 22 of which were characteristic. The expert said that this was strong evidence showing Ciantar had fired the shots.  

A representative of the Weapons Office testified that Ciantar renewed his gun licence in 2025 and had one shotgun which is currently in police hands.

The case continues in November.

Magistrate Astrid May Grima presided.

Attorney General lawyers Anthony Vella and Kaylie Bonett prosecuted assisted by police inspectors Kurt Colombo Zahra and Wayne Camilleri.

Ciantar was represented by lawyers Franco Debono, Francesca Zarb, Adreana Zammit and Anthea Bonnici Zammit.

Lawyers Mario and Nicholas Mifsud appeared for the Agius family.

Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi, Jacob Magri and David Chetcuti Dimech appeared for Mifsud's family.