Updated 5.53pm with comments from family

Police have launched a murder investigation after a dead body was found in Qormi in the boot of a car belonging to a missing man.

Mario Farrugia, 62, was last seen at his home in Pembroke over a week ago, on March 28.

Police spokesman Brandon Pisani said officers were treating the discovery as a murder investigation. 

They have not confirmed the identity of the body but the missing man's niece said it was "99.9 per cent" likely to be him.

A forensic expert investigates. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

'Unbearable stench'

Officers were alerted to the abandoned car in Qormi valley at around 10.30am on Tuesday after someone walking past the vehicle smelt "an unbearable stench", Pisani said.

The badly decomposed body was found inside the missing man's dust-covered grey Peugeot 407 in Triq il-Wied. It is unclear what injuries were sustained. 

"The body was found in the boot of the car, fully clothed, with the face and upper part of the torso covered with a blood-soiled white blanket-like cloth," Pisani added.

Police said they were alerted after an unbearable stench. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

The missing man's distraught sister-in-law was at the scene, crying out his name but was not allowed to see the body and was taken away by police. 

Family pay tribute

Police had issued an appeal to find Farrugia on April 2, asking for any information to be passed on about the missing man. His niece, Francesca, had also issued an appeal on social media. 

Later on Tuesday, she said that the family believed the body found in the car boot was that of her uncle.

"The unfortunate sad truth is that the man found in the trunk is 99.9% my uncle," she said. 

She added that the family had found out about developments through social media and by luck "because in this country morals and ethics are inexistent!"

"Nobody deserves such a tragic ending," she added. "May you rest in peace dear uncle. I am more sure you are in a much better place than the sick world we live in."

Police said that Farrugia was not previously known to them. Magistrate Gabriella Vella is also investigating and forensic doctor Mario Scerri was on site.

The body was found in the grey Peugeot 407 belonging to missing man Mario Farrugia. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Police have ruled out any connection with the case of another missing man, Jonathan Baldacchino, who has not yet been traced.

Third murder 

It is the third murder in Malta so far this year.

Polish student Paulina Dembska, 29, was raped and murdered in Sliema and her body was found at the Independence Garden on January 2. Abner Aqulina, 20, from Żejtun has been charged.

Last month, another woman, Rita Ellul was murdered in Gozo and her partner, 30-year-old Lawrence Abina has since appeared in court accused of killing her.