A terrible scene unfolded at the murder scene of lawyer Michael Grech, who was found dead face down in a pool of blood, explained several police officers who testified in the trial of David Zerafa.

Some believed the man had been shot in the head while his wife, who heard the commotion from inside the house, shouted repeatedly “They killed Michael”.

This came out in court during the second day in the trial of David Zerafa, 39 years, from Nadur who is undergoing a trial by jury accused of killing Gozitan lawyer Michael Grech, after he became obsessed that the lawyer was seeing his wife behind his back.

Dr Grech was the lawyer of Zerafa’s ex-wife in separation proceedings initiated in 2000 and concluded in September 2003.

It is said that David Zerafa shot Dr Michael Grech first in the neck and then hit him repeatedly with a baseball bat. He kept hitting him so hard that he ripped his skull apart.

Police constable Paul Azzopardi, who was among the first to arrive at the scene said he found Marija Grech, the victim’s wife shouting. As time passed, more people, including Mrs Grech’s parents, arrived at the scene.

Sergeant Saviour Spiteri, who was stationed at the Gozo CID section, said he went at the scene of crime after a certain Mario Tabone said a relative living nearby had heard gun shots.

After visiting the crime scene, a search for suspects took place in Mgarr and arrests were made during the night.

Former superintendent Paul Camilleri, who at the time was in charge of Gozo, said that among the commotion at the scene of crime, he saw the lifeless body of a man face down in a garage and it was evident that he had been dragged.

Inspector Marisa Camilleri, who was a duty officer at the control room, said that at around 6pm on 1 June, they had received a phone call for David Zerafa to be investigated because he was going through separation proceedings with his wife and was a violent person. She had passed the information given to inspector Chris Pullicino, who was leading investigations in the case. The murder took place at around 10pm.

She replied in the affirmative when asked by the defence counsel whether the police receives a number of phone calls of the sort.

Footage of the crime scene, nearby areas and the wounds the victim suffered was shown in court.