Police describe incident which led to stabbing

A court heard today how a man admitted to police that he had carried a kitchen knife when he had confronted his son-in-law, and stabbed him four times.

Raymond Mallia, 53, of Attard, admitted to police that he took a knife with him to confront Wesam Ghazzeddin who had allegedly been ill treating his daughter.

Police Inspector Sandra Zammit told the court that on the night before the incident, Mr Mallia had been at a wedding reception with his family. There, his daughter had a fight with her husband, the victim, because of his drinking habit. The woman confided in her father that her husband was ill-treating her.

Mr Mallia went to his daughter's house to confront Mr Ghazzeddin when a fight broke out and Mr Ghazzeddin was stabbed twice in the stomach and twice in the back.

Inspector Zammit added that in his statement to the police Mr Mallia said that at first he had not accepted the fact that his daughter was dating a Libyan national, but was then left no choice but to accept him after his daughter fell pregnant.

He said he took the knife because he was fed-up of seeing his daughter beaten up by Mr Ghazzeddin.

Testifying in court Mr Wesam said that after the wedding his father-in-law had called him, swearing and hurling abuse on the phone. He added that his mother in law called him to warn him that her husband was on his way to his house to confront him.

He said “I could have easily taken the knife from him, but I didn’t because I wouldn’t hurt him”. The case continues.

Police Inspector Sandra Zammit prosecuted.

Dr Giglio and lawyer Stephen Tonna Lowell were defence counsel.