Malta: Double Murder – What we know so far (Updated)

Joseph Bonnici, 38, from Ghaxaq, was arraigned in court before duty magistrate Rachel Montebello on Sunday evening, charged with the voluntary homicide of Marija Lourdes Bonnici and Angele Bonnici.

Bonnici, who appeared in court wearing a tracksuit, was also accused of using a firearm against another person, shooting a gun in a residential area, filing a false police report, attempting to hide evidence of the crime, hiding the corpses of people who were murdered in the crime, carrying a firearm without the necessary license, manufacturing a gun silencer, and manufacturing a firearm and ammunition without the required license. He pleaded not guilty to the charged brought against him.

The prosecution told the court that, on Wednesday, it had started investigating a missing person report in connection with the two women. It was Joseph Bonnici himself who filed the report.

Inconsistencies and contradictions in the accused’s version of events started emerging, which led the police to start suspecting that Marija Lourdes and Angele were deceased.

Subsequently, Joseph Bonnici was arrested, and he went on to admit that he had killed his mother and sister.

The court explained to Bonnici, who appeared calm throughout the sitting, the consequences of the charges against him, and advised him that the accusation of wilful homicide carried a life sentence, MaltaToday reports. 

The Times reports quotes police sources had noted that the horrific incident marks another violent chapter in the family’s history as in 2005, Marija Lourdes’s husband Paul had been jailed for 31 years for having shot and killed a couple who lived next door to them in Għaxaq.

TVM reports that the mother and daughter were killed at another location, after which their bodies were taken to the field.

MaltaToday says that they were found shot and partially buried in a field after a search of the rural area between Santa Lucija and Gudja undertaken after various individuals were questioned by the police. A family member is reported to have provided the police with information, leading to the discovery of the body.

The Malta Independent reports that the man suspected of murdering his mother and sister was described by neighbours as a kind and quiet man, always with his head hung low. Similar arguments are made in report published on iNews. 

The investigations are carried by Zejtun Police Inspector Roderick Attard and Inspectors Keith Arnaud and James Grech from the Homicide Squad, according to One News.

Newsbook reports that Magistrate Caroline Farrugia Frendo is leading the inquest and has appointed a number of experts to assist her in the case.

Net News reports the fact that this was this year’s first homicide.