Matthew Zahra's job was to lend money and do occasional taxi trips

A murder victim's father this morning told court that his son acted as a lender and ran a taxi service to earn some extra cash.

Cross examined by defence lawyer Joe Giglio, Matthew Zahra's father Vince said "If anyone felt the interest was extortionate, they should have reported it to the police."

Taking the witness stand in the compilation of evidence against Jason Galea, the victim's father confirmed he knew the accused as he had collected payments from him on his son's behalf.

Jason Galea, 39 of Birzebbugia and Ronald Urry, 49 of Paola are charged with the murder of Matthew Zahra in 2012.

Questioned by the defence, the witness said his son used to do the occasional taxi trip to earn extra cash but his main income came from lending cash.

"I used to give my son anything he wanted. I gave him large sums of money which he used to lend people. When they did not pay on the agreed days, the interest would inevitably go up. The idea is logical as no one does anything for free", Zahra's father explained.

Zahra said he was aware of his son's dealings with Jason Galea and on three occasions he had gone to collect payments for him.

Identifying Jason Galea in the dock, he  explained how "once Jason came to my garage, and another time I met him at B'Bugia and Hamrun. We never spoke. I'd be given an envelope with money but I never gave him a receipt or bill of payment".

Zahra had last seen his son the day before he disappeared.

"He came to my garage to see a car we had just imported from the UK. I never saw him again".  

He continued that recently the police had informed him they had found remains which could belong to his son Matthew.

"However they neither informed me of the DNA result nor told me how they believe he was killed", the father told the court.

He continued how last year the police had information that his son had left the country after asking Galea to lend him money, which he guaranteed with a gold chain.

The witness recalled how Matthew had bought a gold necklace worth €5,000 from a guy who lives in Luqa.

The prosecution showed Zahra a police identification sheet of a certain Ronald Attard, which Zahra identified as the man who sold the necklace to his son. The police found the necklace when they searched Ronald Urry.

The father explained he knew his son himself lent out money to a number of people whose identity he did not know.

However, Matthew had shared with him details regarding Jason Galea's deal. Vincent Zahra knew there were bills of payment amounting to €30,000.

Prior to Matthew Zahra's disappearance, the victim's father bought a house and two garages from Tanio Fenech of Premier Cars Ltd.  

The debt over the property  was listed as bills of payment on the name of Jason Galea. "This was done to ensure he pays the money owed to Matthew", the father said.

However in other sittings, Tanio Fenech did not recognise the accused.

Prosecuting officer Chris Pullicino asked the court to caution the witness about giving incriminating evidence. Magistrate Edwina Grima explained to Zahra he has the right not to answer questions which could incriminate him.

Questioned by the prosecution, Vince Zahra denied allegations made by Ronald Urry that he had sold him a revolver.

"The police told me he claimed I sold him the gun used to kill Matthew, but I never sold anything to that man", the witness said pointing at one of the accused. The witness also claimed the accused Jason Galea would threaten his son and demand that he takes the battery out of his mobile phone and meets him alone, when they met to collect payments.

"We've been together for 13 years and have three children. That day he went out early. When I got out of bed at around 11am, I immediately tried calling him as we couldn't stay without each other. His phone was off. He never came back home", Crystle Grixti told the court.

Prior to filing a missing person report with the police Grixti went through her partner's clothes to see what he was wearing. "When I opened the drawer I realised he took the heavy gold chain. He didn't wear it everyday, which is why I always stressed with the investigators the chain was the best lead", she said.

The witness recalled how together with her partner they had purchased two similar chains from a Luqa-guy. "We paid around 5,000 for both chains", she claimed. Police investigators had shown a photo of a necklace found in possession of the accused. Grixti had recognised the necklace as the one belonging to the victim.

On 15 August 2012 together with Matthew's father, the witness had filed a missing person report when Matthew Galea failed to return home. The following day the vehicle used by the victim was found in Marsaxlokk by his partner and their three children. Matthew Zahra's remains were found in a field relatively closed to where the car was found. The car was locked and haphazardly parked near the building of the Fishermen's Co-operative. The keys of the car were never recovered. In the booth police found a DVR-recorder containing CCTV footage from the Gram's Jewellery shop. The witness said the jeweller had given Zahra the recorder to have it repaired.

Grixti recounted how her partner was in the business of lending money, but never had any arguments with his clients. "I know who Jason Galea is because there were times I went with Matthew to collect payments. I used to stay in the car. I argued with my partner because when he met Galea his phone was always switched off. However he had told me that Galea makes him do that and he also tells him to go alone. But I went with him at least four times", she said.

The witness explained how Zahra kept bills of payment for all money he lent. "This was so everything was in order and could be checked. None the less I never gave anyone a receipt when collecting money. Neither did I ever see my partner hand out or destroy bills of payment once a payment was collected".  Galea had agreed to pay Zahra 1,500 every three months, but only paid 9,000 of the money owed.

Grixti was aware her partner her other clients but did not know who they were. "Once when Matthew was in prison I collected a payment of 500 from someone known as is-Sloy. Again I did not give out any receipt. But I do not know of anyone else", the witness said.

Zahra's partner claimed she knew who the Camilleri family were because they were neighbours when she lived in Valletta. Mario Camilleri 'l-Imniehru' and his wife lived in the same street as me, but we never spoke and I am not aware of any dealings between them and my partner. However I do know that Mona and the accused are siblings", she said.

Police Sergeant Stephen Bezzina also took the witness stand describing how Ronald Urry had explained the dynamics of the murder to the police. Urry claimed he waited behind a prickly pear tree outside a field in B'Bugia. "When Galea arrived with Zahra as passenger I simply pointed the gun and shot him twice. He fell dead on the spot. Then we buried the body in a previously dug hole in the field", Urry had alleged. The accused had told investigators he did not personally know the victim but agreed to kill him as Galea promised him money.

The case continues on 6 November.