Grech, who is aged 33, is accused of the murder of Patricia Attard who was found shot dead in a van at Ta’ Qali on 14 February this year.

At the previous two sittings the prosecution called several witnesses to tell of their involvement in the case. The police found gun shot residue on the accused’s clothes and on the van he used to drive. Grech was employed by Richard Attard, the victim’s husband, who allegedly conspired to kill his wife. Police inspectors involved in the investigation told the court that certain witnesses had been offered Lm10,000 by the accused to help with the murder of Patricia Attard.

The proceedings also uncovered a possible unsuccessful attempt to end Mrs Attard’s life. In his testimony, superintendent Pierre Calleja said that a certain Charles Vella had told him that Grech had tried to lure Mrs Attard to the edge of a cliff with the intention of pushing her off. This apparently did not succeed because the victim was afraid of heights.

Grech was allegedly the last person to whom Mrs Attard had spoken on the night she was murdered. Witnesses said that the last time she was seen alive she had said she was going to meet Grech after leaving the Club de Bingo, which is where she had spent the evening.

At yesterday’s hearing, magistrate Jacqueline Padovani Grima ruled that there was sufficient evidence for a bill of indictment to be drawn up against the accused, Josef Grech.