One of two men charged over the murder of transvestite prostitute Simon Grech asked a friend if the police could retrieve evidence from a decomposing body, a court heard yesterday.

Taking the witness stand, Police Superintendent Carmelo Bartolo said an intensive investigation into the disappearance of Mr Grech led police to Abdul Bugrara, a friend of the 42-year-old accused, Ismael Habesh.

Mr Bugrara said he had met Mr Habesh, who seemed very worried and, when asked what the problem was, Mr Habesh asked him if the police could retrieve evidence from a decomposed body. He replied that they could.

In lengthy testimony, Supt. Bartolo gave an insight into the investigation and evidence that he believes not only wraps around Mr Habesh but his co-accused Faical Mahouachi, 46, of Tunisia.

Both men are pleading not guilty to Mr Grech’s murder.

Mr Grech went missing on April 7, 2005, and was found days later, at about 4pm on April 13, 2005, lying on his back sunk into a carpet of wild marigolds in a field near the roundabout known as Is-Salib tal-Marsa, adjacent to the former HSBC Bank.

Supt. Bartolo said Mr Habesh was questioned almost immediately as he was singled out by Mr Grech’s father as the person to whom the victim was closest.

Mr Habesh always denied murdering Mr Grech, saying the last time he saw him was April 5 after Mr Grech called saying he needed help as he was involved in a fight.

He said he managed to catch a lift to Marsa where Mr Grech said he had been injured in a fight with a customer because he had tried to steal the man’s phone.

After this the two of them managed to get a lift to Ħamrun with a taxi driver. There, Mr Habesh bought some food and caught a bus home. He said it was the last time he saw Mr Grech alive.

The case continues.