Sylvia King's murder accomplice found dead

A man who in 1997 was convicted of complicity in the gruesome murder of Sylvia King five years earlier, and who has served time in prison, was found dead of a suspected heroin overdose, police sources said.

The body of Tommy Baldacchino, 43, was discovered at his flat in Bugibba on Monday night and an autopsy was held yesterday.

Although toxicology results are still pending, it is suspected he died following a heroin overdose. Implements related to drug abuse were found close to his body, the sources said.

Mr Baldacchino had been charged with the murder of Mrs King, who had been burnt alive in a car at Il-Kuncizzjoni, limits of Rabat, together with Joseph Harrington.

Mr Baldacchino had given the police a detailed account of the murder and said he had wanted to stop Mr Harrington but was afraid he would also be killed.

He was released from prison last year.

In September 2000, Mr Baldacchino was admitted to hospital from prison and had suffered a heroin overdose while in hospital. He recovered and during the last year of his prison term had undergone a drug rehabilitation course at the substance abuse therapeutic unit between September 2001 and July 2002.

The court had put him under probation for two years for drug possession and recommended that he follow a drug rehabilitation programme.