Another man to be charged over Ta' Qali murder

The police are in the next few days expected to arraign a second man in connection with the murder of Patricia Attard, who was shot dead at Ta' Qali on February 13 in a mini-van she used to drive.

The man will be charged with conspiring to commit a crime after he had discussed details about how to eliminate Mrs Attard.

Although Mrs Attard was not killed in the way that was originally planned, conspiracy to commit a crime is viewed very seriously at law. This means the man will face compilation proceedings and could end up being tried by a jury.

Josef Grech, 32, of Balzan, has been charged with the murder and was remanded in custody after the court declared there appeared to be enough evidence for him to face murder charges.

Evidence against Grech is still being compiled. The case is likely to drag on as the man to be accused shortly is also a potential witness but cannot testify before the case against him is decided.

In the compilation of evidence against Grech, Assistant Police Commissioner Emanuel Cassar testified that the police had received information that Mrs Attard's husband, Richard, had wanted to kill his wife. When Mr Attard was interviewed by the police he said the couple had problems but denied wanting to kill her.

The assistant commissioner had also testified that the police had received confidential information that the accused had asked Charles Vella, known as il-gagu, to kill the victim for Lm10,000. Mr Vella and the accused had discussed throwing the victim off a block of flats or a cliff, according to the testimony.

Mr Cassar said Mr Vella had told the police that shortly before the accused was arraigned he had seen the latter drive past in a car with a faulty silencer. "The accused pointed his fingers like children do when they pretend to be shooting", Mr Vella told the police, adding that he took this as a threat that the accused wanted to pay him back.