'Take the daughter, the son's in heaven': Father charged with attempted murder
Daughter, 10, said her father tried to strangle her. Son, 12, found in pool of blood
A man has denied attempting to murder his two children after his 12-year-old son was found seriously injured in a pool of blood and his 10-year-old daughter told police her father tried to strangle her.
The 49-year-old man from Catania, who cannot be named by court order, appeared before a magistrate on Thursday following his arrest after a three-day manhunt.
Police inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra told a court that a 10-year-old girl had been picked up by a woman on the Coast Road as she was trying to get help at around 10.15pm on Saturday.
The child told police at St Julian's police station that her father had tried to strangle her and had killed her brother, but she had managed to escape.
Boy found with blows to the head
When police went to White Rocks, where the incident had taken place, they found the 12-year-old lying in a pool of blood after suffering several blows to the head.
He was considered to be in critical condition and taken to Mater Dei hospital, where he remains in the intensive treatment unit. The daughter was released from hospital.
Police informed the children's mother what had happened and investigations revealed that she received a phone call from her husband saying, in Italian: "Take the daughter, the son is in heaven".
Officers immediately began searching for the father and found his van with a rope and a noose attached.
'I made a huge mistake'
The man later phoned his flatmate, telling him: "I made a huge mistake".
He said the money in his home should be used for his funeral, indicating he was a danger to himself. He also called several other individuals, making remarks about what he had done to his son and indicating he was suicidal.
After a three-day search, an officer came across the man at 6.40pm on Tuesday, identified him and arrested him. He was limping and was taken to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was treated for injuries consistent with a fall.
It transpired he had tried to strangle himself and then tried to jump onto rocks but fell into the sea, where he was dashed against the rocks and left with four or five broken ribs.
The 12-year-old boy was found in a pool of blood at White Rocks on Saturday night. Photo: Chris Sant FournierDuring interrogation, the man said he wanted to cooperate with police and directed them to a notebook in a caravan where he had been hiding. Police found a note detailing what he had done to his son, expressing remorse for his actions and saying he wanted to end his life after he thought his son was dead.
The man, who has lived in Malta for 15 years, was described in court as having had a good relationship with his children. He was separating from his wife at the time.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to murder both children, grievously injuring them and holding both children against their will.
Bail was not requested at this stage.
Magistrate Elaine Rizzo presided. Lawyers for the Attorney General Anthony Vella, Kaylie Bonett and Etienne Savona prosecuted, assisted by police inspectors Kurt Zahra Colombo and Christian Xuereb. Lawyer Giannella De Marco and Charles Mercieca appeared for the accused. Lawyers Maxilene Pace and Charmaine Cherett appeared as parte civile for the wife.
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What are the charges?
4.34pm The father has denied all charges. They are:
- Attempted murder of both children;
- Causing grievous injuries to his son daughter;
- Holding his children against their will
Bail not requested
4.25pm The defence did not request bail at this stage.
Case will not be held behind closed doors
4.23pm The court denied a request for the case to be heard behind closed doors at this stage. The court taking into account the charges, and the nature of crimes, denied the request at this stage because criminal proceedings are public in nature.
Not guilty plea
4.20pm The man has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Good relationship with children
4.16pm Answering questions from the defence, the inspector said the man had a good relationship with his children but a tense relationship with his wife. From what was written in the notebook, the accused appeared sorry for what he had done and appeared to be a person who was arriving at the end of his life. He wanted to end his life when he thought that his son was dead. He had been in Malta for 15 years, and was self-employed.
Attempted suicide
4.14pm Asked if the accused tried to commit suicide, the inspector said yes, "he tried to strangle himself". He tried to jump onto the rocks but landed in the sea and was smashed against the rocks. The injuries he has are compatible with this, the inspector said. He has some four to five broken ribs.
Ban on all names
4.10pm A court has upheld a request for a court ban on the name of the accused, his alleged victims and their mother.
Indicated he wanted to co-operate
4.03pm He was brought to police headquarters and indicated that he wanted to cooperate and did not want a lawyer. He told the police that he had left a note in the caravan where he had been staying. Police went to the caravan and found a note in which he described what happened. He had a happy family, he went through separation, and apologised for what he did to his son.
Found with injuries compatible with a fall
4pm During observations on March 10, three days after he went missing, a sergeant spotted a man at 6.40pm. The sergeant approached him and asked him “Malti?”, he replied "no". The sergeant asked him his name, to which he replied “Si” and the sergeant arrested him.
He looked injured and was limping. He was taken to Mater Dei hospital, where he was treated with injuries compatabile with a fall. He was kept under observation and treated. He was discharged on Wednesday.
Search begins
3.56pm From the video call to his wife, she could recognise part of Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and police investigations indicated that the man was still in the area. There was a search for the man. His van was found near his son and the van had a rope with a noose attached. His mobile was found near caravans in the area, indicating that he was in the area. Although police were not sure at this stage if he was dead or alive.
Couple undergoing separation
3.53pm From the investigation it emerged that the mother had received a phone call from her husband, who told her in Italian to "take the daughter, the son is in heaven".
The couple were undergoing separation proceedings. The man then called his flatmate, a man called Alessandro, who told police he got a call from the man telling him to use some money in the flat for his funeral.
This indicated that the man was a danger to himself.
Boy suffered 'several blows to the head'
3.52pm The inspector continues. The girl's brother was found in a room in White Rocks. He had suffered several blows to head and was in a pool of blood. He had almost lost consciousness and paramedics were called onsite. He was certified as in danger of loss of life and taken to Mater Dei. His mother was informed.
Girl said father tried to strangle her
3.50pm Inspector Kurt Zahra Colombo takes the stand. He explains that on March 7 at 10.15pm he was informed that a woman saw a child asking for help along the Coast Road in St Julian's and brought her to police station.
The child said that her father tried to strangle her and killed her brother, and the girl said she managed to escape. The police went onsite and she showed them where it happened, and there they started looking for the brother.
The accused enters the room
3.46pm The accused enters the room. He is Italian so is assisted by an interpreter, who is given the oath.
Case set to begin
3.40pm We're about to start proceedings. Thanks for your patience.
Police inspectors Kurt Zahra Colombo and Christian Xuereb will be assisting the prosecution.
Lawyers Maxilene Pace and Charmaine Cherett are appearing as parte civile.
Among those in the courtroom is the suspect's wife.
List of arraignments
2.59pm We're still waiting for the case to begin as the magistrate has a long list of arraignments to get through.
Son still in intensive treatment unit
2.43pm The accused's 12-year-old son remains in the intensive treatment unit at Mater Dei, where he was taken following the incident on Saturday night.
Background to the case
2.23pm While we wait for the arraignment, some background. The public was first alerted to the case on Sunday morning, when the police issued a statement saying they were searching for a 49-year-old Italian national following a report of an attempted homicide at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.
They gave little details but it soon emerged that the alleged victims were his two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.
The man's phone was found but it took a three-day search involving police, members of the armed forces and the civil protection department to find the man. He was arrested on Tuesday.
Who's who
2.25pm The court will be presided by Magistrate Elaine Rizzo. Attorney General lawyers Anthony Vella, Kaylie Bonett and Etienne Savona are prosecuting, assisted by police inspectors. Lawyer Giannella De Marco and Charles Mercieca are appearing for the accused.
Suspect arrives at court
2.20pm The suspect has just arrived in court, accompanied by police, for his arraignment.
The accused, pictured centre, arrives in court under police escort. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier