Murder accused Salvino Mangion suffers heart attack during court hearing

A 71-year-old man accused of murder suffered a heart attack in court on Friday, bringing proceedings to a halt during the compilation of evidence against him.

Salvino Mangion denies murdering 33-year-old Kyle Mifsud, who died from gunshot wounds on September 22.

Shortly after police inspector Stephen Gulia completed his testimony, Mangion began complaining of chest pain. 

Court staff gave the defendant water, and the sitting was briefly suspended while an ambulance was called. 

Inspector Gulia later told the court that Mangion went into cardiac arrest while being examined by paramedics in the ambulance. He was taken to Mater Dei Hospital. His condition is not yet known.

Police account of the incident

Earlier, the court heard that police in Cospicua were alerted by a neighbour who reported a person “wounded and full of blood” in the common area of the apartment block where Mangion lives in Vittoriosa.

Inspector Gulia said officers found Mifsud with injuries to his chest and abdomen consistent with a firearm discharge. Despite his condition, Mifsud identified his alleged attacker, saying that “Salvu” from the third floor had shot him.

He is said to have walked from the third-floor landing to the entrance, leaving a trail of blood and knocking on doors for help.

At around 1.45pm, as officers secured the scene, a man approached and identified himself as the accused’s son, Jonathan Mangion. He led police to his father, who was located roughly 100 metres away.

Kyle Mifsud was shot in the common area of an apartment block. Photo: Facebook

The suspect was arrested, examined by a doctor, registered at Cospicua police station and later taken to police headquarters. Officers took steps to preserve potential gunshot residue, the court was told.

A search of the flat uncovered two shotguns, one behind a bedroom door and another on top of a wardrobe and ammunition stored in a drawer.

According to police, Mangion’s firearms licence had not been renewed since 2021. An empty shotgun cartridge was recovered from the soil of a plant pot inside the home. Luminol testing indicated microscopic blood traces on the bathroom tap.

Neighbours reported hearing banging on a door, a single shot, then shouting and crying.

History between the men

The court heard details about the history between the accused and the victim. Neighbours told police that Mangion, a widower who lost one of his three children, lived alone and was regularly checked on by his two sons, Jonathan and Brian.

Following the deaths in his family, his life “deteriorated” and he began hosting people described as untrustworthy.

Among those who visited were Mifsud and his partner, Donna Camilleri. They allegedly harassed Mangion for money to fund drug use, sometimes approaching him in the street.

Jonathan and Brian told police they received frequent calls from neighbours concerned that visitors were taking money from their father. The brothers tried to persuade him to live with them. He stayed with Brian for a period but returned to his flat. Jonathan said he sometimes found the refrigerator empty and believed his father was handing cash to people with drug problems.

Police at the scene of the murder in Vittoriosa. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

In 2023, Mifsud and Camilleri broke into Mangion’s flat and stole items. Both admitted the offences. Mifsud was jailed for two years and three months; Camilleri received 19 months. Treatment orders were imposed on both.

They were released in June 2025 and allegedly resumed harassing Mangion. On 29 August, Jonathan said he confronted the pair at a bus stop near the residence and told them to stop.

Mangion 'paid for sexual services'

In an interview, Mangion told police he had known Mifsud and Camilleri for years. He said he paid Camilleri €20 for sexual services during weekly visits and claimed she did not harass him for money, with Mifsud waiting downstairs.

After their release from prison, he alleged that Mifsud sometimes arrived alone, banged on the door and demanded cash. He said he reported the disturbances three times, twice at Żabbar police station and once at Cospicua.

Describing the day of the shooting, Mangion told officers he loaded a shotgun, opened the door and fired at Mifsud after the younger man demanded money. He said he then pushed Mifsud, closed the door and washed blood from himself in the bathroom before leaving the building in a lift and wandering in the area. He maintained that Mifsud did not threaten him with a weapon.

CCTV installed by Mangion’s children captured footage of the accused holding a shotgun, the court heard. Inspector Gulia said Mangion sometimes attached a €20 note to a peg and dropped it down to Mifsud from his balcony to make him leave.

Under cross-examination by defence lawyer Franco Debono, Inspector Gulia confirmed reports of an earlier incident in which Camilleri or Mifsud allegedly pushed the elderly man and took money from his pocket. He also said one of the defendant’s reports to police referred to a woman knocking at his door and “irritating” him.

The case is being prosecuted by Attorney General lawyer Kaylie Bonett, assisted by Inspectors Stephen Gulia and Keith Rizzo. Lawyers Franco Debono and Adreana Zammit are representing Mangion. Lawyers Nicholas and Mario Mifsud are appearing for the victim’s family.

The hearing was adjourned following the medical emergency.