Accused had threatened to "stab and kill" wife
The handbag and shopping bags that Catherine Agius was carrying when she was stabbed.
Roger Agius, the man who stands accused with the murder of his estranged wife Catherine in Tarxien on July 13 had told her sister that if he did not get half of everything he would stab and kill his wife.
Testifying in the compilation of evidence against Mr Agius, Catherine’s sister Miriam Milankovic told the Courts that she had known Mr Agius for more than 15 years when he and her sister were still dating.
She said that while her sister had always worked, Mr Agius hardly ever did. She recalled that after just a month of marriage Mr Agius drove his wife to Ms Milankovic to ask for money.
Once she gave her Lm150, another time Lm200.
“I never asked for the money back, I just could not cope with seeing the children suffer, Ms Milankovic said.
She recalled that shortly before her death, her sister had gone crying to her saying she could not live on the €55 a week that she was earning from a laundry job she got after being made redundant from VF.
One day she told her that she was going to take a stand and Mrs Milankovic told her that it was about time since Mr Agius was always drunk.
“I could see that during their arguments he used to hit her... I could see bruises on her thighs, arms and face... She told me I love him and I pray for him, I really pray for him to change. I even get the children to pray for him but I just cannot live on €55. I will start separation proceedings as I want me and my children to live decently.”
Mr Agius, Ms Milankovic said, had gambling and alcohol problems. He would spend his wife’s wages on his vices and they even had debts with a third person.
Her sister would cash her cheque and take the money home and this was how he would get his hands on it.
“I kept giving her money to help out,” Ms Milankovic said.
She said that during the separation proceedings, Mr Agius literally grabbed his wife and threw her out of the house. The children lived with their mother at their grandparent’s house all in one bedroom. He did not even offer to pay some sort of maintenance.
Once, Ms Milankovic recalled, her sister went to get her clothes and Mr Agius came to her at the door, shoved bills and a shopping list for food at her face and told her to go shopping because the fridge and cupboards were empty.
At their lawyers’ the couple came to an agreement that instead of him having to pay maintenance, she would keep the house.
But later he called Ms Milankovic on her mobile phone and told her he should have given her sister a good beating.
“Later he said tell your sister that I want half of everything and if I don’t get it I will stab her and kill her. This was in May. I do not know if she made a police report, I did not make a report because I did not want to make things worse,” Ms Milankovic said.
She said that after she recounted the incident to her sister, Mrs Agius was so afraid of walking down the street that she would always be looking over her shoulder.
On the day of the murder she saw some bags in the middle of the street as soon as she got off the bus.
“A policeman told me to go back home. But our neighbours said that a woman had been injured and I went back to the policemen and asked them if it was my sister Catherine Agius. They said yes.”
Crying, she told the Court that shortly afterwards she heard her sister had died.
* * *
Mr Agius, 47, of Fgura is pleading 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.
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M Bagley
Aug 27th 2009, 15:08
How can one not possibly further butcher the accused? He was a COWARD because the only person he could bully was a woman, who was his wife. Only God knows what brutality he inflicted on her behind closed doors. He made her life miserable, treated her like an object, expected her to work herself to the bone to fund his vices, fathered three children he had no respect for - if he had, he would not have exposed them to this brutality. The stress must have been incredible for Catherine and her children. Life imprisonment is what he should get.
Domestic violance comes in many forms - physical, verbal, psychological. Whatever its form, it is despicable.
claire farrugia
Aug 27th 2009, 11:08
@Edward Bartolo
of course i agree with you, there is also the case of wives beating their husbands and all sorts of abuse, even sexual from mothers to their children, everything exists. However statistically it is mostly women who are victims of abuse. first of all they are physically weaker than men, and especialyl if you are a woman brought up in a maltese (macho) culture, the chances are high that your self esteem is quite low and so you are even more susceptible to abuse
Ruby Jenner
Aug 27th 2009, 08:52
Men who inflict violence on their wife/partner are not going to change. They have either been brought up witnessing violence in the family or completely spoilt and expecting the same treatment from their spouse and if they don't get their way they use their fists. Imagine living in such a situation, fearing for your safety every single day. There is a desperate need for some sort of safe haven for these families so they can try and make a fresh start away from the violence. Pity these poor children that have witnessed such horror, I pray they grow up in a happier environment.
edward bartolo
Aug 27th 2009, 04:21
@ Authorities
It is important NOT TO ASSUME that domestic violence only involves husbands abusing their wives: unfortunately, there is much more to it. It can INVOLVE ANY MEMBER, irrespective of gender, because being prone to use violence, depends on one's character traits, one's experiences and physical strength.
So, it is important that the law does not favour one over the others. It must treat every abused person with the same protection. I am a male, notwithstanding that, I was abused by a family member; I SHOULD HAVE the right to be protected!
T Cilia
Aug 26th 2009, 14:28
When is Malta going to consider domestic violence as the VERY vile and serious offense it is? When is the police force going to take immediate action when a report is made by any woman who has suffered even the slightest domestic violence (let alone a major one)!! And when I say action, I don't mean sending for the perpetrator and informing him that a report has been made agianst him... an action that obviously makes matters worse! These persons are bullies who think that they are above the law, and unfortunately sometimes they are proved right!!! It is only when a murder is committed that they are taken seriously, which is a horrible shame!! There is absolutely no excuse for the accused's behaviour, if he is guilty. All the "unfortunate" things mentioned are all self-inflicted, yet the poor victim's life was cut short prematurely and the poor children were left without a mother who was clearly their only fixed point of reference. Serious action on this issue is long overdue.
edward bartolo
Aug 26th 2009, 11:59
What about domestic violence between brothers / sisters? The law should also cater for these.
Quote: "People who abuse are generally 'controllers' and manifest their controlling ways under any circumstance."
Well said, my friend! I am a victim of such a scum!
mary j. muscat
Aug 26th 2009, 10:49
There is no excuse for domestic violence. Justice must be served.
We must instil the 'zero tolerance' approach and forget the 'maybe the situation will change' attitude. People who abuse are generally 'controllers' and manifest their controlling ways under any circumstance.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Aug 26th 2009, 10:48
@Sander Depasquale
If all that has been alleged is true, the accused should have been butchered a long time ago.
@julian caruana
Well said. But we should also be making such press reports compulsory reading for schools girls aged 10-16 and teaching them the dangers of consorting with boys and men who are work shy and/or gamble/drink/indulge in capricious, expensive hobbies.
And I also hope that the bishops and "Musew" authorities will seriously consider teaching such subjects at the compulsory twice weekly doctrine lessons which have been imposed on all children till about the age of twelve as preparation for Confirmation or Grizma tal-Isqof.
And we should teach all our children much more about the importance of timely reports and self respect and indoctrinate them much less about forgiveness, tolerance, local omerta practices and misplaced loyalty.
claire farrugia
Aug 26th 2009, 09:43
CLAIRE FARRUGIA:::::::::::::: said it all .
James Abela
Aug 26th 2009, 09:37
@Sander Depasquale:
"3 children, no job, alcohol and gaming problems, no wife, problems with justice.... "
All the above mentioned were results/consequences of his actions. If he brought 3 children to the world he should have known better than to remain without a job, let alone getting involve in gaming problems.
No wife/Problems with justice - if he killed them (since he hasn't been found guilty yet): his call.
Finally, I don't think the definition of 'poor guy' fits if he really did the actions as reported by timesofmalta.com
E Compagno
Aug 26th 2009, 08:46
Our law makers need to look into the chapter under "Domestic Violence" because there is much left to be desired.
If I go to report a 'simple' threat, the report will be taken and the police officers will say, 'Thank you and good night'.. and I'm expected to go back home and sleep next to the same person who threatened me today, and I just reported. This is why women who have no where to go or are too afraid of packing a bag infront of their husband, never end up reporting the threats. They are not taken seriously enough by anyone - well not until the threat is actually carried out. Sometimes not even by the wife herself. 'Uwijja, he said it in anger..'
There needs to be more awareness of places a woman can go to seek shelter, away from the obvious places (like her mother's or sister's) her husband will go to look for her,. And the law needs to come down HARDER on violent spouses, not just for justice, but to protect the rest of the family.
And these shelters need PROPER government funding!! Or does it have to take another murder?! WAKE UP PLEASE!!
marthese mussett
Aug 25th 2009, 23:22
By finding out who they mix with,getting to know their friends,are they spending their money on clothes or gambling it away.Are they going out for a meal or for a booze filled party?It is impossible to keep an eye on their every move but it does nt do any harm to keep teaching them right from wrong,no matter what age they are.REST IN PEACE CATHERINE.I did nt know you my friend but you seemed such a good woman and a vey dedicated mother.
marthese mussett
Aug 25th 2009, 23:14
This is so so sad.I really feel for her children.In my opinion these are the true life stories that secondary school students should be reading ,or made to read during lessons.Maybe they realize what problems they get into if they get into bad habits.Nothing wrong in having a nice bottle of wine over a meal or a couple of beers,but there s a limit.Willpower and self control is important.People like the accused should have been put in jail BEFORE such incidents. Allegedly not supporting her and his children, throwing her out ,threatening her, what a menace to society, we don t need people like him on the streets, Drugs,prostitution,alcoholism, excessive gambling, these things lead to usury and to more severe problems. Domestic violence,unhappy children.Yes,we have alot of problems and its a shame.Reading the newspapers will show us the sad reality we are living.While praying to God that these three children will at least be looked after,and for Catherine to rest in peace let us all learn from this horrible REAL LIFE story and try to prevent things like these from happening.
anthea doughty
Aug 25th 2009, 22:20
@ Sander Depasquale
"let us put ourselves in the boots of the poor accused"! The POOR accused? oh dear, poor me poor me pour me another one. There is Alcoholics Anonymous groups and meetings even on the tiny island of Malta - if this man had wanted all the help anybody with an alcohol problem needs, AA provides it., free! Alcohol and/or drug abuse is not a defence. Just another classic case of let's care more about the rights of the perpetrator of the crime rather than the victim! Don't make me sick! Everything that befell this "poor" man was probably nothing more than the consequences of his addictions - ie losing a job and being unemployable. He should be made to take responsibility for his own actions - end of! He was allegedly a bully and a wife beater and the sooner he is off the streets forever the safer all women will be.
eric theuma
Aug 25th 2009, 19:10
it's a pity the death penalty was abolished.
A. Borg
Aug 25th 2009, 19:05
M.Galea (3 hours, 22 minutes ago) My God! How sad! And the government keeps closing an eye to the many gambling outlets sprouting all over the island! A good idea and close the wine and spirits outlets too and close all the Maltco lotteries outlets too and close the casinos and suspend all the parties,Discos and every occasions where alcohol is present including feasts! A very good idea.
claire farrugia
Aug 25th 2009, 18:19
how are the authorities trying to minimize domestic violence in Malta? the cases seem to be increasing. what about the police? the man had already threatened to stab his wife. in such cases one SHOULD go to the police (whether the wife herself or who receives the threat) and the police should do something about it IMMEDIATELY before other lives are lost. There should be a policy about domestic violence and how to deal with it. i do not know if such a policy exists. If no strong action is taken, such cases will increase for the men would not fear much and say they have nothing to lose anyway. Blaming the gaming companies for this is a bit too far - fetched, but i would rather blame the legal system, for not intervening before in such cases.
Claire Bonello
Aug 25th 2009, 17:10
@ Sander Depasquale - Please stop being absurd. Nobody has butchered the "poor accused" as you call him. Having three children and no job and other problems is no justification for violence. What about the murder victim and the 3 children who no longer have a mother to care for them?
Alexis Brincat
Aug 25th 2009, 16:37
@ Sander - The only victims here are the children.
Sander Depasquale
Aug 25th 2009, 16:00
While sympatizing with the victims of this crime, let us put ourselves in the boots of the poor accused!
3 children, no job, alcohol and gaming problems, no wife, problems with justice....
People out there, you can be in the same situation, no one is special. Take care and do not get involved in such situations, do not allow your feelings to carry you away! Be strong and if need be seek help. Thank God the maltese are very helpful people.
While demanding justice, let us pray for the poor souls and not butcher the accused further.
julian caruana
Aug 25th 2009, 15:47
Blame the system , our law courts, our police our lawyers, welfare system , etc etc all these people failed this poor soul and her children, what will happen to these scarred children ????? Pleaee make example of this cowboy, if he is found guilty.
anthea doughty
Aug 25th 2009, 15:12
Poor Catherine, I am so saddened by reading this. The torment and nightmare that her husband, the accused, allegedly put her through. The daily grind of living with somebody like that threatening and intimidating you, finally getting the courage (and trust me it takes a massive amount of courage) to leave even though she feared for her life. Even though she had to fear for her life every day with him by the sounds of it. I am a survivor of extreme domestic violence - I am one of the lucky ones! I truly pray for Catherine's soul, may she be at peace and all love and prayers being sent to her children. Please let justice be done at the very least - if guilty, he deserves life meaning life imprisonment.
M.Galea
Aug 25th 2009, 15:07
My God! How sad! And the government keeps closing an eye to the many gambling outlets sprouting all over the island!