Dean Donovan Frendo, 23, has been remanded in custody over a hit-and-run incident which killed Antonie Degabriele in Zejtun.

Frendo was charged with killing Degabriele, driving a vehicle without a licence and insurance policy, driving over the speed limit, and tampering of evidence among other charges.

Antoine Degabriele’s lifeless body was found on Friday at around 11.45am, in a field, next to President Anton Buttigieg street in Żejtun. Degabriele was 51 years old.

Police said that the incident which led to Degabriele’s death actually happened the night before, on Thursday, at 11:20pm.

He worked in the catering industry, with people describing him as a widely-loved figure in the community.

The prosecution said in court on Sunday that the police managed to find pieces of Frendo’s car at the site of the accident, which corresponded with a vehicle found at a Xghajra garage.

Police managed to trace the car, a Mazda Demio, in a garage in Xghajra, thanks to investigations by the Major Crimes Unit and district police, as well as the Forensic Science Laboratory.

The car was said to have been found with extensive damage, including a broken windscreen.

According to reports, a mechanic is being interrogated by the police over the matter.

Defence lawyer Franco Debono, representing the accused, did not request bail.