Woman forgives man accused of stabbing her and killing her mother
The scene of the Cospicua murder.
A Cospicua woman said today that she had forgiven a former boyfriend who allegedly stabbed her repeatedly and also fatally stabbed her mother.
Mary Grace Vella who was giving evidence in the case against Clive Farrugia, said she had strong faith in God and had therefore forgiven Mr Farrugia and given him access to their son since the incident.
Mr Farrugia stands charged with the murder of Maria Theresa Vella and with having grievously injured Mary Grace. He is also accused of slightly injuring her brother Joseph Vella.
Ms Vella testified that on the day of the incident, on May 8, she was at home in Cospicua when Mr Farrugia turned up to see their son. She had broken up with Mr Farrugia two weeks previously and was seeing another man.
Mr Farrugia told her that he loved her dearly and wanted to get back together. She refused, telling him he was miserly and was a workaholic. He said he would change and started to cry. At one time he sat near her on a bed. When she continued to refuse his advances, he produced a knife and started stabbing her legs. Such was the frenzy of his attack that she was stabbed 11 times. She is still receiving treatment for her injuries.
Ms Vella said her mother heard her screams and rushing in to help and was herself stabbed and fell onto the floor in a pool of blood.
The accused then tried to stab himself in the chest. When her brother came down from his upstairs room, he asked him to kill him, adding that he loved her a lot. The two scuffled and her brother eventually managed to grab hold of the knife and throw it away.
Ms Vella said she dragged herself to the kitchen where she sent an SMS message to her new boyfriend telling him to forget her. She thought she was going to die, Ms Vella told the court.
But as she was carried out of the house on a stretcher she saw her son and prayed to God that she would see him again.
Ms Vella said she had since broken up with her new boyfriend and was now alone. She had strong faith in God and had therefore forgiven Mr Farrugia and given him access to the boy who, she was 99% sure, was his father.
In his evidence, Mr Vella said he had been asleep upstairs when he heard his sister's screams. He rushed downstairs and saw a terrible scene. His mother was on the floor, as was his sister, both in pools of blood. Mr Farrugia rushed towards him and his sister warned him that he had a knife.
Mr Vella, a policeman, said he had to defend himself and managed to pin Mr Farrugia to the ground after throwing away his knife. But he continued to fight on, even when help arrived. He even tried to bite a nurse who tried to assist him.
The case continues.
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13 Comments
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P. Azzopardi
Oct 10th 2009, 23:45
@ Teresa Pace
Whether one forgives or not is irrelevant when one considers the bad that has been done. That is the point of the rabbi story.
Subjectively, however, from the victim's point of view, forgiveness is always a good idea because, psychogically, it allows acceptance to take place, and releases the victim from seeking revenge. Objectively, from society's point of view, forgiveness by the victim is irrelevant and ought not lead to acceptance because that means ignoring deterrence and things in that society will get worse. It will also mean that many victims will then be compelled to seek their own retribution ("jiehdu l-ligi b'idjehom").
This does not mean that punishment ought to be excessive, nor that prison should not seek to rehabilitate.
Teresa Pace
Oct 10th 2009, 15:48
All that said in my previous comment, the man should have an appropriate sentence...there is a consequence to every action whether good or bad. However while serving his sentence, he should be given all the help he needs so that once out of prison, he will have the know how to stand on his own two feet and live a decent life. No prisoner should be thrown into prison and be left at that...because once they are out of prison they will be more broken than when they went in, and thus revert to old life style with greater passion due to frustration. Thus education, psychological help and if the person asks for it, spiritual help as well.
Teresa Pace
Oct 10th 2009, 15:42
@ P Azzopardi
I do not agree with you or with that rabbi. We have to look at one person who forgave all...who didn't have to suffer but He did. He wasn't even under the effect of sin like all humanity is...thus suffering shouldnt have touched Him; yet He allowed it to touch Him, to save you, me and all humanity. He just said, 'Forgive them for they know not what they are doing'. We should turn and look at Him.
I must say, it did take alot of guts to forgive the man who murdered her mother and who stabbed her...but she did it! Well done Ms Vella...you are a true example to what forgiveness should be really like....you are a true christian. Well done keep up that faith in God and He will do great things with you...you have just done the most difficult act of all...forgiveness!!!
P. Azzopardi
Oct 9th 2009, 16:21
In spite of the unfortunate circumstances of the case, and the human aspects, forgiving is irrelevant. An important and celebrated rabbi was on a train dressed as a tramp so as to be able to travel in peace. He also happened to have forgotten his money and had nothing to eat or drink during the long train journey. He asked the other passengers for money or food without telling them who he was. They all refused him and shooed him away stating that there was no place for tramps on that train. The following day, the rabbi gave a lecture in the town hall and recognised some of the train passengers who had come to hear him. They were utterly ashamed of what they had done and begged his forgiveness, repeatedly. But he refused to forgive them. When they asked why, he answered: "It is not up to me to forgive you. You have to go ask that hungry tramp on the train." They answered that the tramp did not really exist. He said: "But your evil did exist and even if I forgive you, the evil remains. You cannot reverse bad deeds."
Mark Seychell
Oct 9th 2009, 15:55
Mr Cauchi, would you be willing that this guy be thrown in prison for a very long time, or be forgiven and leave him running around?
DVella
Oct 9th 2009, 15:11
@Rocco Cauchi
If this woman was not caught up in a momentary emotional hysteria and really meant what she said and is prepared to stand by it, nobody is disputing that forgiving someone accused of such a henious act is in itself noble and courageous, whether one subscribes to christian principles or otherwise . . . !
On the other hand it may be that 'those who are so very adamant to remind us . . .' are sick and tired of seeing felons and criminals, some of them habitual and repeated offenders, being given a mere slap on the wrist (if that) by the justice system . . . . after some of the recent judicial debacles it is only natural that people whose sense of public morality is offended, should question the competence of certain people within the mechanisms of 'justice'.
Rocco Cauchi
Oct 8th 2009, 19:37
The lady has shown a very good Christian spirit indeed. True to say, it does not bear much significance from a legal standpoint but it certainly says a million charitable words to those who are so very adamant to remind us that justice still has to be done.
A Cassar
Oct 8th 2009, 19:23
@R Cutajar, R. Gauci, DVella
Nowhere in the article did anyone suggest that he shouldn't be found guilty or given a lenient sentence. All the victim said is that she forgave him. And that is a very nice thing!!
It might be irrelevant to the law, but relevant to the readers of newspapers. If only everyone was like her!!!!
Gordon Farrugia
Oct 8th 2009, 19:12
I think they have a name for this - it is called blind love!! If only we had a proper justice system in place here with real punishments (as opposed to the status quo which is a farce; shame to the judiciary) we wouldn't see so many crimes. But it seems the law courts don't like putting people in prison, maybe they think they strain the system and end up a burden for us all - but i would prefer having to pay for this than paying to cater for refugees; at least it makes Malta safer.
R Cutajar
Oct 8th 2009, 16:25
She might have forgiven him but her mum is not around to say the same. That means it is irrelevant if she has forgiven him or not and the criminal proceedings should proceed unhindered.
R. Gauci
Oct 8th 2009, 15:54
She forgave him, thats OK for us but society cries for justice. In the US, upon conviction, such crime would be punishable with 2/3 consecutive life sentences, in Malta?
DVella
Oct 8th 2009, 14:13
Whether the woman forgave this man or not is irrelevant . . . the fact remains that he is still accused of a very serious, cruel and violent crime! One hazards to hope that if he is found guilty by the court, the sentence will be an appropriate one.
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 8th 2009, 14:02
A sad tragedy indeed i remember this story.