A man who had been charged in connection with the killing of a Northern Irish national whose body was discovered in a lemon grove in southern Spain has himself been shot dead.
The victim, a 33-year-old Czech national identified as Michael M., was one of two suspects in the murder of John George, whose body was found on a lemon farm in Rojales in January 2025.
Michael M. had been released on provisional bail and had appeared before a court in Torrevieja on February 20, where a judge again allowed him to remain free while the investigation continued.
The Guardia Civil has not made any arrests in the latest killing and says all possibilities regarding the perpetrator remain open.
Lawyers representing John George’s family had recently asked the court to jail Michael M. after new evidence allegedly linked him more closely to the killing.
According to sources close to the investigation, forensic tests found blood belonging to the Northern Irish victim on licence plates seized from Michael M.’s vehicle.
Despite this, the court decided to keep the same precautionary measures already in place rather than send him to prison.
These included mandatory court appearances every two weeks, confiscation of his passport and a ban on leaving Spain.
Sources also said Michael M. had previously cooperated with investigators, helping authorities locate John George’s body hidden beneath a lemon tree.
After his arrest, he distanced himself from the murder, claiming his only connection was a recent friendship with the main suspect.
He said he had once driven John George to collect belongings from the home of another man under investigation.
Michael M. was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday in the Rocio del Mar residential area, near Punta Prima, in Torrevieja.
A local resident raised the alarm around 1.30am, reporting a man lying in the street with blood on his head. No witnesses have yet been identified.
Paramedics from the SAMU emergency service attempted to resuscitate the victim but confirmed he had already died.
A judicial commission attended the scene and investigators carried out a detailed forensic search for clues that could identify the killer or killers.
The location where the shooting occurred is considered one of the quieter residential areas of the city and lies close to the coastline.
Following Michael M.’s death, the only remaining suspect in the killing of John George is his compatriot and acquaintance Jonathan Alan S.
He is currently under investigation in the case and has been free on €100,000 bail since December.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the latest killing could be connected to the earlier murder investigation. The inquiry remains ongoing.
