Murder suspect still not fit to be arraigned

The young man who is believed to have stabbed a mother to death and almost killed her daughter yesterday week is out of intensive care but not fit enough to be arraigned, sources have told The Times.

Clive Farrugia is alleged to have been badly beaten by police sergeant Joseph Vella when he walked into the bloody argument to find his mother and sister being stabbed in the living room of a home at St Lazarus Street, Cospicua.

The mother, 61-year-old Maria Theresa, died from her wounds after having been stabbed five times, while the sister, 24-year-old Mary Grace survived, despite having suffered 28 stab wounds.

Mr Farrugia was rushed to hospital in critical condition and was unconscious for days.

Sources said Mr Farrugia is now conscious and has been transferred to a surgical ward from the intensive care unit, where the police spoke to him briefly.

He will be questioned in more detail once he recovers from his injuries.

Meanwhile, Mary Grace, who also managed to talk to the police for a short while when still under intensive care, has been transferred to a similar ward.

The domestic fight broke out after Mary Grace informed Mr Farrugia, who is the father of her child, that their relationship was over.

Investigations by the police are being led by Superintendents Carmel Bartolo and Silvio Valletta, assisted by Inspectors Daniel Zammit and Fabian Fleri. A magisterial inquiry is still underway.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com