A man accused of killing the father of his estranged wife in Kalkara in October 2013 has been granted bail for a second time.

Gregorio Scicluna, 52, of Kalkara, stands accused of murdering Joseph Caruana, the father of his former partner. He is also accused of the attempted murder of his former partner's three children. The killing had taken place inside the home of the victim situated in Kalkara, in full view of the children.

Mr Scicluna was previously granted bail against a deposit of €30,000 and a personal guarantee of €30,000 but remained behind bars after a successful appeal by the Attorney General, who said the accused could not be trusted. The AG had argued that Mr Scicluna was a relapser and had already been found guilty of assisting a woman in her attempt to kill her husband in the past.

He has now been granted bail for a second time against a deposit of €50,000 and a personal guarantee of €50,000. He was also ordered to sign the bail book every day. Sources said Mr Sciclunahad to sell his house in order to be able to afford to pay his deposit.

A court had heard how the accused first shot the victim and then finished him off by hitting him repeatedly in the head with a shotgun. The victim, 61-year-old Joseph Caruana, suffered a brain haemorrhage due to a severe brain injury.