Accused of wife's murder

A man was yesterday accused of stabbing his wife to death in broad daylight in the middle of a Tarxien street on Monday.

Nervously twitching his legs throughout the hearing, 47-year-old Roger Agius, of Fgura, pleaded not guilty to the murder, being in possession of a knife and relapsing.

He allegedly stabbed 40-year-old mother of three Catherine Agius once below her breasts, causing her to drop her handbag and shopping while bleeding profusely.

The stabbing occurred at 5.55 p.m. just as she stepped off the bus on her way home in Neolithic Temple Street. Mr Agius turned himself in at the Paola police station shortly afterwards.

Bearded and dressed in a light green jacket and dark blue trousers, Mr Agius gave his particulars to the court, as is standard procedure, saying he was unemployed.

Defence lawyer Emanuel Mallia asked the court to order that his client be seen by a doctor for psychological and medical reasons but "more medically than forensically".

The accused was remanded in custody.

Magistrate Giovanni Grixti then asked whether Mr Agius would need to be kept in any other specialised unit of the prison and Dr Mallia replied that that was why he had asked for his client to be examined.

Lawyer Arthur Azzopardi also appeared for Mr Agius.