Police Superintendent James Grech gave chilling testimony on Tuesday as he described the horrific crime scene at the Sliema residence where Christian Pandolfino and Ivor Maciejowski were found murdered in August 2020.
The trial by jury continued before Madam Justice Natasha Galea Sciberras, with Albanian national Daniel Muka, 30, and Serbian national Viktor Dragomanski, 42, facing charges in connection with the fatal shootings of Pandolfino, 58, and Maciejowski, 30. The two men were gunned down at their home on Locker Street on the evening of 18 August 2020.
As proceedings began Tuesday, Muka reiterated that he had instructed legal aid lawyer Josette Sultana not to act on his behalf, insisting she was not his lawyer. When the judge asked whether he would follow proceedings without disrupting the court, Muka responded that he could not remain silent. He was subsequently removed from the courtroom.
Taking the witness stand, Superintendent Grech detailed his role in the homicide investigation. He coordinated with officers already at the scene, including a sergeant and Inspector Keith Mercieca, who had spoken with eyewitness Christopher Gauci.
Gauci had observed a white vehicle stopping near the residence. Two men exited the car, approached the house, and moments later, gunshots were heard. The suspects were then seen fleeing the scene in the same white Volkswagen Tiguan, which sped off toward Tigné Road.
Upon arrival, Grech found a gruesome scene inside the residence. The area was secured and later handed over to forensic investigators. Surveillance footage showed the Volkswagen Tiguan used in the murder bore false licence plates. Inside the vehicle, police found several incriminating items: business cards belonging to Chris Pandolfino's sister, Paula, as well as a wig, surgical gloves and masks, gold items, and the license plates (JED082) used during the attack. The car was later taken in for forensic analysis.
That same night, the suspects were seen at a Sliema establishment, where one of the men asked for the Wi-Fi password.
Superintendent Grech testified that mobile phone data placed Muka in the Portomaso area around 8.30pm. on the night of the murders. After that point, his phone went dark - likely turned off deliberately - before being reactivated around 11pm in Gżira.
Muka was eventually located at an abandoned house in Floriana, where police arrested him in possession of a loaded Glock 17 pistol containing 11 bullets. Grech noted that the weapon matched ballistic evidence - six bullets were missing, the same number used in the killings. Pandolfino had been shot five times; Maciejowski was executed with a single shot between the eyes.
At the time of arrest, Muka was wearing a gold ring and necklace belonging to the victims. DNA evidence linked him to clothing found in the getaway vehicle, and his fingerprints were also recovered from the car.
Muka later identified Dragomanski from police photographs but was unable to clearly recognise a third man, Jesper Kristiansen, due to the photo angles. He falsely claimed that Dragomanski had been the shooter - a version later proven untrue.
Police tracked Dragomanski to the Blue Bay Hotel in Gżira. As officers prepared to arrest him, he attempted to escape by climbing out a window and running across rooftops. His efforts were short-lived - he was apprehended a few streets away and taken into custody.
During his arrest, Dragomanski shouted that Muka had "ruined his life" and "killed two people for nothing." Officers instructed him to remain silent until formally interrogated. Previous testimony from Sergeant Josef Gerada had detailed this failed escape attempt.
Prosecutors Maria Francesca Spiteri and Kevin Valletta are representing the Attorney General. Daniel Muka is being defended by Mario Mifsud and Josette Sultana, while José Herrera and Alex Scerri Herrera are appearing for Dragomanski. Victims' family members are being represented by lawyers Joe and Michaela Giglio.