Elliot Paul Busuttil, the main suspect in the murder of a man found dead in a car in Qormi last week, was charged with wilful homicide in Friday evening. He pleaded not guilty.

Busuttil was one of four men arrested and questioned over the murder of Mario Farrugia, 62, from Pembroke, was found dead in the boot of his car on 5 April. He had been stabbed around 40 times.

 It is believed that the murder is linked to a financial dispute between the victim and Busuttil.

Busuttil was arraigned on Friday afternoon two days after his arrest. He was escorted into the courtroom with an entourage of police officers. The charges brought against him include wilful homicide, illegal arms possession, possession of a sharp weapon, hiding a cadaver, breaching bail conditions, and recidivism.

His lawyers, Edward Gatt and Ishmael Psaila, said he will be pleading not guilty to the charges, and did not request bail at this stage.

Busuttil is already facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly stabbed a 57-year-old Bulgarian and tried to steal his money in Ta Qali in 2020. 

He is also linked to narcotics and was previously charged with possession with the intent to traffic cocaine, heroin and cannabis.

Farrugia's body was found after reports were made to the authorities of a strong, foul smell coming from the car. The victim's head was covered with clothing and by a bloodied sheet down to his waist. The body had been found in a significant state of decomposition and the police were not able to identify the victim immediately. As such, a DNA analysis was required to identify the victim. Farrugia had originally been reported missing on 2 April, having been last seen on 28 March near his residence in Pembroke.

Times of Malta reported Friday that one of the other suspects is Libyan national Ramzi Abdulhafid Ib Abukem. In 2018, he had been charged with having, together with another Libyan, beaten a man to death in Hamrun. Two years earlier, he had been involved in a fight in Paceville, during which a Samurai sword had been used.

The police said on Thursday that four persons had been arrested in different residences in Attard, Msida and Mosta.

A man was arrested in a residence in Attard. A man and a woman were arrested in an Msida residence and another woman was arrested in a Mosta residence.

Inspectors Wayne Camilleri, Kurt Zahra and John Paul Attard prosecuted. Lawyers George Camilleri, Kaylie Bonnett, Maria Schembri appeared on behalf of the Attorney General.