Two brothers charged with Paceville murder, plead not guilty

Two brothers were on Wednesday charged with murdering Joseff Rivas in Paceville on Monday.

Rivas, 44, died at Mater Dei Hospital soon after the attack.

Romanians Ionut Iulian Tanase, 35, and Dan-Andrei Tanase, 32, pleaded not guilty to the murder, being in possession of a weapon, carrying a knife in public without a licence and breaching the peace. They also pleaded not guilty to living off the proceeds of prostitution.

A third man is in hospital and is expected to face similar charges on Thursday.

Murder 'linked to prostitution'

Wednesday's late-evening court sitting, presided over by magistrate Ian Farrugia, heard that the fight was the result of an argument relating to organised crime involving prostitution. Police inspector Kurt Zahra said police received a report of the stabbing in Paceville on Monday afternoon and, at the time of the call, the victim was still alive. He said that after a while the police were informed that the victim had died. Zahra said CCTV footage showed that three men were at a cafe in Ross Street when they were approached by another three men.

The footage shows a "few seconds" of communication, followed by a commotion involving the victim.

The...