Death brings bittersweet closure for murdered businessman’s family

That oft-repeated maxim about justice delayed was sounded out four years ago by Oliver Scicluna, the late father of murdered Martin Scicluna who was killed by his business partner in 2008 at their sports store in Qormi.

In 2012, Scicluna told the press that his wife Martha had died heartbroken over the death of his son. “A death no human being deserves. It was a tragic situation my family went through,” he said as his family waited for the wheels of justice to turn.

And slowly they turned, until Scicluna’s murderer Spirdione (Dione) Mercieca died earlier this week on Wednesday morning, after a long illness, at the age of 54. With him came the end of the slow prosecution, which even saw one witness, Norbert Pace, pass away in the process.

Like Oliver Scicluna’s own plea for justice to be served four years ago, Martin Scicluna’s surviving wife Jacqui Scicluna expressed her disappointment on Facebook that justice had not prevailed.

“Today you will rest in peace,” Jacqui wrote in an address to her dead husband, as she learnt of Mercieca’s passing away.

“Justice did not prevail but karma did. It is now in the hands of God. I will not judge nor will any other being but God will judge for the murder of our beloved Martin Scicluna. He took your life seven and a half years before he died. May we all find peace in our hearts. May you all RIP.”

Scicluna’s nephew Mark Abela Scolaro joined his aunt on Facebook in expressing dismay at the judicial system while hailing the end of an ugly chapter that will never be forgotten.

“Justice did not prevail after seven whole years. Two kids were left without a father, a wife without a husband, a mother and father without a son and lots of memories and sadness to a whole family and friends who loved him,” Abela Scolaro said.

“Our judicial system rots. The person who caused all this has to face the Divine Creator now. My consolation is that there can be no excuses and nothing but the whole truth will be presented in front of God. May you rest in peace and face divine justice. This chapter is finally closed now.”

Back in September 2015, Scicluna’s sister Grace had complained on Facebook that Mercieca was enjoying full freedom while out on bail. “No justice, yet. He who needlessly took a life, does not deserve to have a life,” she said of Mercieca, who continued running his artificial turf business.

Since Mercieca gave himself up to the police after shooting his business partner, the relatives could not understand why he had not yet been convicted.

It was around noon on a Tuesday in September of 2008 when Mercieca, then 46 from Birkirkara, shot Scicluna, then 43, in the chest and forehead from a distance of two metres. The father of two from Siggiewi died on the spot at the Qormi office of All Sports International – a company specialising in the installation of artificial turf pitches. Scicluna was chairman whilst Mercieca was the managing director.

Merceca, who was seen providing regular security during electoral campaigns when Eddie Fenech Adami was at the helm of the Nationalist Party, gave himself up at the law courts in Valletta shortly after the shooting.

According to witness Norbert Pace, who passed away in 2011, Scicluna was suspecting that Mercieca was fiddling with company money – an accusation that Dione Mercieca also levelled against Scicluna.

Pace had told the court that the victim had wanted Mercieca out of the company as he had suspected foul play in the company’s finances. But on that fateful day, Pace heard the two businessmen arguing in Scicluna’s office, with Scicluna ordering Mercieca to get his things and leave. According to Pace, Mercieca did indeed leave the office only to return with a gun and shots rang out. Mercieca then left the premises and drove his Mitsubishi off-roader to Valletta, parked in Palace Square and walked right up to the law courts, found Police Inspector Chris Pullicino and gave himself up. Police later found the shotgun with two cartridges left in his car.