Two charged with 2005 murder of a young man

Two men, a Tunisian and a Libyan who claimed he was due to leave prison yesterday, were charged with the murder of a 20-year-old man whose decomposing body was found dumped in a field in Marsa eight years ago. Faical Mahouachi, 46, of Tunisia, who lives in a residence for the homeless in Gżira, and 42-year-old Ismael Habesh, of Libya, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Simon Grech on April 5, 2005. They were remanded in custody. Prosecuting Inspector Chris Pullicino said there were several stages in the investigation, which was put together “bit by bit” over the years. He pointed out that Mr Habesh was among the first to become a suspect. In fact, he and two other men were questioned over the murder back in 2005, police sources said. Mr Grech was found by the police eight days after his murder. He had been stabbed. The body, in an advanced stage of decomposition, was lying near the HSBC Bank and close to the roundabout at Is-Salib tal-Marsa after he had been reported missing. His father had told the police that his son had already been missing for two days. Searches were carried out by the police and by the victim’s family in places where Mr Grech was known to hang out. The area...