A lawyer was shot dead in Birkirkara this morning.

The victim is Carmel Chircop a lawyer with connections to civil society. He is a partner of Dingli and Dingli Associates.

He is 51 years old and is well-known in the Birkirkara community. He was shot at least twice in the upper body in his own garage, which is situated at a distance from the lawyer's residence.

Magistrate Marsanne Farrugia is conducting an inquiry.

 

The incident took place at about 7.30am in a garage complex in John Borg Street. The lawyer's body has been taken away by a police hearse as the police continue their investigations on site.

(The victim's sister being comforted by her nursing colleagues)

Other shots were fired in his direction, some hitting the lawyer's Mercedes car.

The alarm was raised by a neighbour. The shooter escaped.

A neighbour told The Malta Independent that Dr Chircop was a quiet man of a few words, but one who was always ready to help.

She said that Dr Chircop was married and had a son.

Dr Carmel Chircop graduated B.A. (Hons) in Business Management from the University of Malta in 1987. He graduated as Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from the same university of Malta in 1993 and in the same year graduated as Master of Laws (LL.M.) with distinction from the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI).

Dr Chircop practiced as an associate lawyer in the law firm of Hugh Peralta & Co. from 1993 until 2008.

Between 1994 and 2000 he was appointed legal advisor to the then Malta Maritime Authority.

In 2008 he set up his own law firm - Chircop Advocates - which firm merged into Dingli & Dingli Law Firm on 1 July, 2013.

Dr Chircop also set up Quorum Corporate Services Limited, which pursuant to the merger aforementioned acts as corporate services provider to the Firm, through which entity accounting services are rendered.

Dr Chircop became a Partner in the Firm with effect from the 1st July, 2013.  

The lawyer was also the president of the Duke of Connaught Band Club of Birkirkara.

Photos and videos: Michael Camilleri