Man was shot dead in cold blood because of blackmail and usury

A 27-year-old man from Valletta was shot dead in cold blood because of blackmail and usury, a court was told this morning. The remains of Matthew Zahra were found buried in a field near Birzebbuga last month, along with the bodies of Mario Camilleri l-Imniehru and his son Mario Jr. Jason Galea, 39, of Birzebbuga stands accused of the murder, along with Ronald Urry, 29 of Paola. Galea is also one of the co-accused in the murder of the Camilleris. In testimony today, a CID Sergeant, Geoffrey Gerada said that when Jason Galea was interrogated, he admitted to having taken part in the killing of Matthew Zahra on August 15 last year in Birzebbuga. The two were in a car which Galea drove to a field at Qajjenza, Birzebbuga. As Galea got out to open the gate, Ronald Urry, who had been waiting for them behind a tree, put his hand into the car and shot Zahra twice in the head. The two men then disposed of the body in the field, threw away a blood-soaked head-rest, cleaned the car and showered. The gun was thrown in the sea off San Lucjan Tower. The sergeant said Galea was emotional and occasionally cried as he recounted what had happened. He said that Matthew Zahra had tried to blackmail...