‘You’ll See What I’m Capable Of’, Bidnija Shooter Told Victim Before Shooting Him Five Times
Mohamed Hamdan, the 45-year-old Libyan national accused of murdering Jean Paul Busuttil in Bidnija, allegedly warned his victim just minutes before the shooting: “You’ll soon know who I am. You’ll see what I’m capable of.”
The chilling threat was revealed in court on Tuesday as the compilation of evidence against Hamdan began before Magistrate Astrid May Grima. The murder followed what police described as a minor traffic incident between Busuttil’s Volvo and Hamdan’s motorcycle on a narrow rural road.
According to Inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra, Hamdan had been driving the wrong way down a one-way road in Bidnija when the two vehicles collided. A police officer, who happened to be driving behind the Volvo, intervened and de-escalated the initial argument before requesting a warden from LESA and leaving the scene.
However, tensions soon reignited. A LESA officer who arrived on site testified that Hamdan made the ominous remarks during a renewed exchange with Busuttil. Shortly afterwards, he left the scene, only to return with a firearm.
Witnesses say he fired five shots at Busuttil in front of his wife and mother-in-law. A sixth bullet struck the LESA vehicle. The warden told the court he fled in fear, only turning back to see Busuttil clutching his neck and bleeding heavily.
The victim’s widow, Mirjam Busuttil, recounted the traumatic moments via video link, saying they had been on their way to watch their daughter play volleyball when the altercation occurred. She said they tried to resolve the incident calmly but that Hamdan became aggressive. She recalled Hamdan’s son, who had arrived at the scene after the accident, warning her: “Get in the car because I do not trust my father.”
Moments later, Hamdan allegedly returned with a gun and shot Busuttil at point-blank range.
Mirjam described her husband’s final moments with haunting clarity. “The look in his eyes was gone,” she said, adding that she attempted to drive him to hospital herself. They managed to flag down an ambulance en route, but Busuttil was pronounced dead by 9:13am.
Hamdan was arrested at the scene. Inspector Zahra told the court that he admitted to firing the weapon and initially refused legal representation, reportedly stating, “My lawyer is God.” He also refused to give fingerprints or a DNA sample.
CCTV footage reportedly captured Hamdan leaving his house shortly before the shooting. The prosecution said there was no prior relationship between Hamdan and Busuttil, noting that Hamdan had only recently moved into the area.
The defence raised concerns about the absence of footage showing the actual shooting and questioned the delay in LESA’s response time.
Hamdan faces multiple charges, including wilful homicide, causing fear of violence, illegal possession of a firearm, destruction of evidence, and recidivism. He also stands accused of driving the wrong way down a one-way road.
As the case unfolds, it has already shaken the quiet village of Bidnija, raising troubling questions about public safety, response times, and how a routine traffic incident escalated into a fatal act of violence.
The next hearing is scheduled for Monday, 14th July.
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