Pensioner stands trial accused of attempting to murder sleeping wife with hammer

Updated 6.25pm

A pensioner accused of trying to murder his sleeping wife with a hammer after a row over €300 has gone on trial, seven years after the incident.

Emanuel Borg, 68, denies attempted murder and causing grievous injury to Maria Dolores Borg at their home in Triq il-Qasam Barrani, Mellieħa on November 11, 2019.

The woman suffered life-threatening face and brain injures after being struck multiple times in the head and face.

She died of natural causes several years later, the court was told, and her testimony from the compilation of evidence will be read out. 

According to the bill of indictment, a heated argument broke out between the couple, who had a history of arguments, after Borg asked to borrow €300 from his wife. Around the same time, another argument arose over a person who was going to start living in the matrimonial residence.

The prosecution will argue that Borg reportedly became consumed by a desire for retribution and allegedly decided to kill her.

Struck wife's face and head with hammer

The woman was at their home in the Għadira area in Mellieħa, where she had prepared lunch for her husband.

At around noon, following the meal, she went to rest in their bedroom and fell asleep. It was at this moment that Emanuel Borg allegedly decided to execute his plan.

Borg allegedly armed himself with a hammer, entered the bedroom where his wife was sleeping, and struck her multiple times in the hefad and face.

He is accused of then leaving her and calling the emergency department at Mater Dei Hospital, telling them he had just severely beaten his wife and that she was unconscious.

Medical responders at the scene certified the woman to be in a critical condition. Upon the arrival of the police, Borg immediately told officers to arrest him, confessing that he was the one who had beaten his wife. 

The police arrested him and gave him his legal rights.

It was later confirmed that his wife sustained severe, life-threatening injuries to her face and brain.

The injuries she sustained included lacerations to her throat/neck area, wounds around the left eye, wounds to the scalp, fractures to the skull and facial bones and bleeding in the skull area.

The charge of attempted homicide carries a prison sentence ranging from eight to 40 years, while the charge of grievous and permanent injury carries a penalty of six to 12 years’ imprisonment.

'I just beat my wife, arrest me'

The first to testify in the case were the police officers who were first informed of the accident.

Police Sergeant Joseph Attard said that on the day, the police were informed that a man had hit his wife and recalled how both the police and ambulance struggled to locate the scene of the accident, as the home was in an area full of side roads.

He said at one point, the ambulance and police agreed to take different routes, and the ambulance arrived at the scene first. Attard said he still was unaware where the residence was, as the emergency responders told him the victim was critical.

As the police drove down the road, Attard said it was raining and remembered seeing a man, later to be identified as Borg, begin approaching the vehicle, and told them:

“I just beat my wife, arrest me, arrest me.”

At this point, Attard said Borg came across as agitated and told him his legal rights.

Defence lawyer Lennox Vella asked Attard who called the ambulance to the scene, to which Attard said the accused called for the ambulance, stating that he had just beaten his wife. Vella referred to Attard’s report, where he said he saw the victim. He asked to clarify when he saw the victim, since she was in the ambulance.

Attard said that when the police tried to ask the ambulance where the residence was, the emergency responders opened the door to tell him they had to leave since the victim was critical, and that is when he saw the victim’s head covered in blood.

When Attard was asked if the police went to the scene of the incided, he said no, as he called another police sergeant who had informed him to bring Borg to the Mellieħa police station.

Police inspector Benjamin Portelli, who was the driver in the police vehicle, also recalled seeing the accused walking towards the car in the street, and how he had told the officers to arrest him.

Daughter cleans blood from kitchen floor, hammer found in pool

Next to take the witness stand were court experts, Michelle Camilleri and Mario Azzopardi, who told the court that when they arrived at the scene of the crime, they were informed by police that the daughter of the couple had cleaned blood off the kitchen floor.

Camilleri said they were told the daughter cleaned the floor so that her children would not see the “large amount” of blood.

The court was shown pictures of the farmhouse, and how there were red markings, assumed to be blood, found on the cream two-seater sofa in the living room.

Camilleri said photos were taken of a white pillow, which was also on the sofa, which was covered in red stains, which appeared to be blood.

The experts also took photos of red droplets splattered on the living room wall, a pair of white shoes with some red droplets on the insole of the shoe and also another pillow case which had red markings on it.

Camilleri said two hammers were found at the scene. One was in the kitchen, while another, with a metal handle, was found at the bottom of the resident’s pool. A golf club and screwdriver were found close to the pool.

In the room of the alleged crime, only a few photos were taken, and one red droplet was found on the floor.

Camilleri said they also went to Mater Dei Hospital to take the victim’s clothes as evidence. The jury were shown photos of the victim’s injuries and her clothes.

During cross-examination, Vella asked Camilleri why so many detailed photos were taken in the living room and of the sofa, but very few in the bedroom.

Camilleri said the team inspected the room and took some photos of the bed, but there was nothing else that stood out. She repeated how only one red droplet was found in the bedroom.

“Only one,” Vella emphasised.

“Yes, just one.”

Vella asked if Camilleri knew who placed the hammer in the pool, to which she said no.

Earlier in the day, Madame Justice Consuelo Scerri Herrera addressed the jury and explained what will happen in the next few days during the trial. She explained to the nine jurors and three supplementary jurors that everything said in the court is of value and every witness, argument and compilation of evidence will help them make their final decision. 

She explained how they must follow the trial honourably, honestly and effectively and must give their full attention to all the details provided. 

The court also explained how the victim had died a few years ago of natural causes, and her testimony from the compilation of evidence will be read out.

The prosecution is being led by lawyers Kevin Valletta and Justine Brincat on behalf of the Attorney General. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Lennox Vella are appearing for the accused.

The case continues on Wednesday at 9am.