Karin Grech's murder should continue to be investigated - her parents
The parents of Karin Grech, who was killed by a letter bomb more than three decades ago, are insisting that police continue investigating the murder of their 15-year-old daughter.
"Since Karin was murdered in our very home, on December 28, 1977, we've never enjoyed the Christmas festivities. The trauma is there all the time. You learn to live with it but it's always there," her father, Professor Edwin Grech, says softly.
As he sits on a bench at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, Prof. Grech gazes into the distance and, as his tone gets harsher, he adds: "The worst thing is the lack of justice. To leave the case unattended and unsolved was cruel to us... as cruel as killing Karin."
Prof. Grech and his wife Pearl, who live in Gozo, travelled to Malta for the day yesterday to visit Karin's grave and attend a memorial Mass to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of her murder.
The case was rekindled in the nation's memory last week when a parcel bomb was delivered to a Qormi home and exploded in the hands of 60-year-old Philip Cini.
His wife and eight-year-old grandson were standing close to him but escaped uninjured. However, Mr Cini lost his left hand and suffered serious injuries to the left side of his torso. He remains in critical condition.
When Prof. Grech, now 80, heard about the Qormi case he could not believe such things still happened. "To do something like this is unpardonable," Prof. Grech, a former Labour minister, said.
He points out that the main difference between the two cases is that the bomb that killed his daughter passed through the postal system, while the Qormi explosive was dropped off on the doorstep.
Apart from that, in last week's case the motive has not yet been established. "In my case there was only one motive - medico-political - because of the doctor's strike. I cannot prove it myself but ... I believe it can be proven," Prof. Grech says.
Karin died when she opened a letter bomb addressed to her father during the doctor's strike in 1977.
It is believed the bomb was sent to Prof. Grech, a gynaecologist, because he was considered to be a strike breaker.
A similar letter bomb was sent to general practitioner Paul Chetcuti Caruana but this never exploded.
"Our duty as doctors is to treat patients. Looking back, I would have done the same thing and kept treating patients... Why didn't they shoot me while I was out? Did they have to send the parcel home? They should be ashamed," he says.
His expression turns to one of disgust as he thinks of how the perpetrator had wrapped the bomb in Christmas wrapping and sent it home.
"At the time, being a doctor, I used to receive lots of mail and gifts. The day the bomb was delivered to our home in San Ġwann, the postman knocked at the door since it did not pass through the letter box... Karin and her younger brother, Kevin, passed it to one another to open it," he recalls.
Karin opened it. Inside the envelope there was a small pen-box shaped parcel. When she opened it, it exploded.
"She was a 15-year-old attending school in Britain where I used to work. We left her at the college there not to interrupt her schooling.
"She was in Malta for the Christmas holidays... They picked the worst time of year to send it," he says.
After the explosion Prof. Grech and his wife wrapped up their bleeding daughter in towels and took her to hospital. But she died soon after.
"Time does not ease the pain. I feel that if she had been taken through natural causes, it would have been a terrible thing, but it would have been acceptable. Doing something like that, and at Christmas, is unacceptable," he adds.
Since then Prof. Grech has been waiting for the police to bring his daughter's murderer to justice.
In January 2008 his family initiated a compensation case in the First Hall of the Civil Court in its constitutional jurisdiction.
The family is arguing they were discriminated against for not being paid compensation from the government like other families who fell victim to crime. The case is still pending.
"If there is anyone who merited compensation for criminality it's us... This is a point of principle. The last thing the Grech family wants is compensation.
"Who can compensate us for Karin? I'm not doing this for money... I would prefer if they solved the case. I will continue hammering on this until my eyes don't open again," he insists.
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Joseph Raymond Aquilina
Dec 31st 2009, 19:36
From time to time international news items on newspapers and television inform us that Police in UK and other European countries solve 20, 30 and 40 year old crimes and murders utilising new DNA techniques and other modern forensic medicine means that were not available at the time of the incident. This crime, more than any other in Malta, merits a serious and high powered fresh attempt, involving if necessary foreign police expertise to see whether these modern techniques can help to solve this problem. Malta owes this to the innocent deceased Karen, to her parents who have lived in torment since that date, and to the general well being of the national conscience and psyche. This can be done, and the matter should be given priority. I hope that there will be no legal arguments of prescription or such like to frustrate any positive identificaation findings. Keep politics out of it - to the dead we owe the truth!
E Mifsud
Dec 31st 2009, 19:32
Mr GiovDeMartino, you seem to have a very good memory for 'certain' events on the eighties. So I take it that you remember that there was only ONE politician who stated that he supposedly new who murdered Karen. He is still alive and we are still waiting for him to tell us. Perhaps you could write one of your vivid letters to the Times appealing to him to finally speak up. But maybe we are all expecting too much from someone who, on a recent TV programme, had the cheek to justify 'id-dnub il-mejjet'.
marthese mussett
Dec 31st 2009, 18:38
U tistghu ma tkomplux iddahhlu l politika?Inqatlet tifla ta 15 il sena,tifla sabiha,innocenti,mimlija sahha.Tifla li kienet il mimmi t ghajnejn missierha u ommha,.Ghalfejn?Hu min hu missierha,blu jew ahmar,dan dnub mejjet,din il haga ma jmisshiex grat!!Sena wara sena,Milied wara iehor,u l profs u martu ghadhom fid dlam.Msieken!!Insewha l politika,u itolbu lill Bambin ha jilluminakom biex taqbdu min!!Lill profs lanqas Happy New Year m ghandi l wicc niktiblu minn hawn,ghax kull sena dieqa ikbar qed iggibilhom.,u mhux ferh.Nghid ghalija lanqas li kieku kien l akbar ghadu tieghi,ukoll naghmel li nista biex naqbad min.It tifla innocenti,u seta miet huha ukoll,u ommha,b dik il bomba.
GiovDeMartino
Dec 31st 2009, 15:43
U ma qabduhx il-laburisti dak in-nhar se jaqbduh in-nazzjonalisti daqstant snin wara? U tghid ghala l-laburisti ma kinux qabduh?
Antoine Vella
Dec 31st 2009, 13:36
Joe Grima
"..Nationalist Governments have never shown the political will to pursue with vigour the criminals..."
Nattionalist governments? What about Labour governments? I was unfortunately very closely 'involved' in the investigations immediately following the murder and can tell you the police were completely clueless. I also cannot exclude that they were hindered by political calculations when the MLP was in power.
C.camilleri
Dec 31st 2009, 12:39
@ Anthony spiteri
No, I do not believe that EFA promise to solve Raymond Caruana and Karen Grech murders had any bearing on the 1987 electoral results.
But yes I believe he should have kept his promise for justice and their families sake.
Remember that in Raymond Caruana's murder EFA even mentioned 3 persons by their nickname as those responsible for his murder and although he spent decades as prime minister he never actually proved his assumptions.
K. VELLA
Dec 31st 2009, 12:37
MOST OF THE MALTESE ARE STILL WAITING FOR EFA TO SPEAK UP ABOUT WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THIS MATTER!
Anthony Spiteri
Dec 31st 2009, 09:35
@ Reno Calleja : Since Karen's death happeneded in 1977, your Government had all the time (10 years ) to solve the case. And may I ask you a very simple question. Ren, do you really believe that PN won in 1987 because of the promises by EFA that Karen's and Raymond Caruana's deaths will be solved ? If Mintoff's wish in 1981 prevailed, the blackest period for MLP, 1981 - 1987 ( apart from October 1979 ) would never have happened. I trust that in 1981 you supported Mintoff ' s idea, because you love your country and obviously your party. But others in your party wanted otherwise. The others won. MALTA and your PARTY lost !
Galea. L
Dec 30th 2009, 13:05
J Martinelli
So you have now started mind-reading did you? How do you know for what reason did Dr Sant propose to nominate Profs Grech for President? You are now also insulting those who do not agree with you and calling them hypocrites. As they say it takes a thief to catch a thief, so this also applies to hypocrites Martinelli. Your hatred for anything PL knows no bounds. It's about time you took off those very dark blue blinkers and see reality as it is, but it appears very difficult for you to do so since you do not live in Malta but in far-away Canada Martinelli.
C.camilleri
Dec 30th 2009, 12:59
@ Martinelli
As always you are always right and everyone else is wrong.
Your comments brought the condemnation of everyone.
The less we hear from you the better.
J Martinelli
Dec 30th 2009, 12:01
@ Anti-Martiinelli brigade
You read what you want and obviously did not read Adrian Camilleri's comment with regard to Dr.Sant's proposal to nominate Prof.Grech for Presidency (a rumour as far as I know) and that the NP turned him down!
Now why would Alfred Sant have nominated Prof.Grech for President if not because of his daughter's tragedy? And if not, then why did Camilleri have to link it with the anniversary of Karin's tragedy?
And finally, with regard to selecting a President, do you think for a moment that there were no valid alternatives to Dr. Abela, this last time around? Did you object to his appointment? Why not?
Do you think for a moment that I do not regard Karin's tragedy as reprehensible as that of Raymond Caruana and others?
Is it not YOU who are hypocrites?
Yes, I live in Canada where these type of political references to tragedies such as Karin's and Raymond's simply do not exist. Maybe the Maltese public should learn this much from a society that does not live, breathe and die on who governs because the alternatives are equally valid.
Maybe your conscience is moved because the murders happened in those dark years?
Joe E Galea
Dec 30th 2009, 11:42
@J Martinelli: Why don't you just shut up? You are not in any way Maltese and you are just filled with hatred, anger and disgust to the Maltese population. If I were a nationalist I would be ashamed of having someone like you who shares the same political values.
e fenech
Dec 30th 2009, 11:08
@reno calleja. the perpatretors of those who beat up the family and ransacked the home of fenech adami were never brought to justice either. so by your logic one concludes what, that fenech adami does not care who beat up his family and ransacked his home. why can't one condemn violence unreservedly, empathise with the victims and hope that someone somewhere who knows who these criminals are will come forward and leave it at that? rationalising on a violent act will not do!
reno calleja
Dec 30th 2009, 00:04
I recall this terrible murder very clearly. I was one of the new Labour M.P.s .
I I have always observed the expression of sadness and despair in the eyes of Professor Grech whenever Karen's murder is mentioned.
I know how painful it is to her mother , her brother and Prof Grech that the murder was never solved.
I remember Archbisop Gonzi, the uncle of the present prime minister, almost choking when he preached in public after this murder. . If my recollection serves me right he called it the first terroirist act in Matla.
I also recall the solemn promise of Dr. Fenech Adami, than leader of the Oppostion, who vowed that when elected to power , he would ensure that trhe killers of Karen Grech and Raimond Caruana would be caught. He never delivered on this promise that won the P.N. thousands of votes.
On the other hand the attempted murder of his personal assistant was at least partially solved. Food for taught?
Galea. L
Dec 30th 2009, 00:01
J Martinelli Immissek tisthi dak li ktibt Martinelli. Mewt li gabet il-kundanna mhux biss ta' kull min hu Malti imma ta kull min huwa f'sensih u mhux moghmi bil-passjoni politika. Bhal ma gabet il-mewt ta' Raymond Caruana. X'sar innu dak li kien qal Eddie li jghidilna min kien qatilhonm ghax qal li kien jaf min qatilhom? Tghid tassew kien jaf imma ma jistax jghid ghax jinkixfu hafna affarijiet li jaqbel li jibqghu mistura mill-poplu? Min kien qatlu lil Wilfred Cardona wara li kif kien itnqal fil-gazzetti li kien hedded li jikxef xi affarijiet li kienu graw u li kienu jkunu ta saram kbir ghall-PN? Ghalfejn certu persuna kien inghata l-proklama u xortas wahda ma tnehhitlux minkejja li ma kienx gie emmnut minn Guri? Ghalfejn Eddie Fenech Adami kien iltaqa ma din il-persuna taht il-pont ta' San Giljan bil-lejl? X'taf din il-persuns fuq il-grajjiet koroh li ghadda pajjizna minnhom u x'jaf fuq l-affarijiet il kienu jsiru jew jigru fid-dar ta' Eddie Fenech Adami? X'jaf din il-persuna fuq il-Partit NAzzjonalista biex inghata dawk il-mahfriewt kollha? Ghidilna Eddie.
Dr Emmanuel Bezzina,LL.D.,Mag.Jur
Dec 29th 2009, 23:04
MARINELLI - THANKFULLY I KNOW YOU NOT PERSONALLY BUT IN FOLLOWING COMMENTS,I HAVE BEEN RELISHING SUCH AN OCCASION TO JOIN THE DISAPPROVING CHORUS OF YOUR INSIPID UTTERANCES PORTRAY A GROVELLING ATTITUDE TO AN ORGANIZATION WHICH TIME AND AGAIN HAVE MADE USE OF RELIGION TO ATTAIN THEIR MACHIAVELLIAN ENDS: SHUT UP BASE ONE AND COME TO FACE THE MALTESE PUBLIC HERE IN MALTA WHICH IS NOT AS GULLIBLE AS YESTERYEAR TIMES WHEN IDIOCY REIGNED SUPREME AND SAW ONLY REDS OR BLUES,A TREND I ALWAYS CONDEMNED.PROF GRECH WAS A MOST CHARMING PERSONALITY,DID ALOT TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF LOCAL PREGNANT WOMEN,AND POLITICAL INTERESTS HAVE CAUSED HIS FAMILY MUCH INJUSTICE IN NOT BRINGING KAREN`s MURDERERS TO THE DOCK. WE ARE SICK OF YOUR IDIOTIC,NARROW MINDED,DISPARAGING REMARKS - FINALLY YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT MOST MALTESE TRULY THINK OF YOU AS MALTA NOW A LIBERAL COUNTRY IS CONVINCED THAT OUR POLITICAL SET UP IS INDEED CONTROLLED BY MORE INTERESTED ``INVISIBLE`` CONGLOMORATIONS - WAS PROF.GRECH TOO THORNY TO WITHSTANDING.SOLIDARITY & PRAYERS DEAR PROF!
Mario Desira
Dec 29th 2009, 22:43
Abroad the police often get the aid of psychics for difficult or unsolved cases. I urge Professor Grech and the police to do the same. While frauds undoubtly exist, so do genuine psychics. The human mind has immense potential. For the sake of justice, this avenue should also be explored.
Mario Martinelli
Dec 29th 2009, 22:33
Sur Martinelli, Jimporta ma tibghatx izjed kummenti bhal dawn mill-Kanada fejn tghix ghax ahna li ngibu l-istess kuljom bhalek qed jahsbuna li ahna relatati mieghek u hallina nghixu bil kwiet. Grazzi w is-sena t-tajba.
C.camilleri
Dec 29th 2009, 22:10
Niftakar qiesu l-bierah meta smajt l-ahbar tal-qtil brutali ta'Karen Grech fuq ir-redifusion.
Kien il-bidu ta' zmien turbulanti fil pulitika maltija biex jigi distabilizzat gvern elett b'mod legittimu.
Nixtieq nuri s-solidarjeta tieghi mal-familja tal professur Grech f'dan l-anniversarju ta' niket ghalihom.
J. Mifsud
Dec 29th 2009, 21:26
I still hope that the perpetrator(s) of such a heinous crime will one day spill the beans on the mastermind of this atrocious murder.
That will be the only way out for these criminals to make good for their actions and to be forgiven by God Almighty.
Karin was an innocent bystander in a valley of hatred.
Claire Busuttil
Dec 29th 2009, 20:57
@m.zammit - sfortunatament hafna nies qisu ma ghandhomx kuxjenza!
Stephen Grech
Dec 29th 2009, 20:48
Reading such article clearly shows the pain Prof Grech and his family are still experiencing.
Being a father myself, I feel lost when my young daughter catches a simple cold, let alone such a tragic ending ordered by certain rootless people.
I wish the Grech's family courage , and the persons behind such shamful and coward act remorse for the rest of their pittyful life.
Shame on you.
marthese mussett
Dec 29th 2009, 19:46
Miskin il Professur Grech,u martu.Solvejna daqs dawn kazi,possibli ma stajniex insolvu dan?Ilhom 32 sena ma jiccelebraw Milied,dazgur,ghax il Milied dieqa u qsim ta qalb biss gabilhom. Veru li difficli,ghax ghadda hafna zmien,imma ma tistghux taqtghu qalbkom.Nara lil Profs jitkellem fuq bintu fl ahbarijiet...ukoll jaqbadni l biki.Possibli hadd ma jaf xejn?
Emanuel Farrugia
Dec 29th 2009, 19:08
Professor Edwin Grech, I believe that the patients who were in hospital during the time of the doctor's strike, 32 years ago, remember your courage and dedication and if they have passed away, as true christians, they are praying for you and your family from heaven. As for the present, time will not make us forget, to remember Karin every year. As for compensation, it is the least that can be done to ease your distress and I hope it will only be a question of time. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Ramon Mangion
Dec 29th 2009, 18:29
Although I personally think that it might be possible that the case is eventually solved, chances are quite slim given the time period. The criminal might have passed away, went abroad, evidence became invalid and hundred of other things. However I believe that one should not be dishearted easily and efforts should be duly pursued
Anthony Mizzi
Dec 29th 2009, 18:06
Hadd mill-Partit Nazzjonalist tal-Bierah u ta' l-llum ma jsib cans fi 32 sena jattendi kommemorazzjoni ta' dan il-qtil brutali,imqarr fl-Anniversarju tal-mewt ta' Karen? Ghaliex?
m zammit
Dec 29th 2009, 17:28
min ghamel dawn l-atti barbari kif jirnexxilu ipoggi rasu fuq l-inhadda u jorqghod bla ma jhoss rimors ghal kull ma ghamel u irid ikun ta intern ahdar biex jasal ghamel att hekk
Manuel Micallef
Dec 29th 2009, 16:46
@ e fenech
By no means I am saying that justice should not be sought for Raymond's killer/s. Of course it should. But, investigations carried out showed that the bullets (and there was not a shower as you are saying), were not intended to kill - but to scare. A stray bullet (that is not a direct bullet) hit Raymond. These are facts even reported on the PN media.
So much so, that the bullets were aimed at closed doors and not at glass windows...
Again though - my deepest compassion for the victim and may justice be made. I only wanted to make this difference - between direct intent to kill and indirect intent to kill.
J.Borg
Dec 29th 2009, 16:05
@ Martinelli
Dan l-ispirtu li trid isehh f'malta......ghax hekk inhu hekk ma nafx meta irridu nfiequ hawn...jekk jibqaw nies bhalek.
Claire Busuttil
Dec 29th 2009, 15:51
Min ghamel dan l att ghandu jinata il kastig li haqqu, biss biss tal hsara permanenti li ghamel f din il familja.
Inhegeg lil DrGrech, ikompli jigieled ghal din il haga, dan il missier haqqu jara li il gustizzja isir mal qattiel ta bintu, u mhux jinalaqlu halqu billi isir President
Joe Grima
Dec 29th 2009, 15:32
@ Mr Martinelli I suggest you don't use this subject to provoke the Maltese from what you may consider to be a safe distance. Nowhere is safe from the anger left by those lacerations that will continue to sear the souls of honest Maltese who lived through those horrendous times when an innocent child was murdered in cold blood by poltically-motivated killers.
The Maltese people, Labourites and honest Nationalists still feel the pangs of deep sorrow for what happened to Karen and her family. Martinelli and his ilk must lead very lonley lives not to be moved to tears at the thought of losing a daughter of that age in those circumstances. I will not politicise this cruel murder with my comments.but, in my opinion, Nationalist Governments have never shown the political will to pursue with vigour the criminals responsible for Malta's most horrendous child murder. Karen obviously came from the wrong side of the fence. Compensation? The Nationalist Government refused me compensation as a crime victim when my property, my only car and my Radio Station were arsoned. Nationalist justice is clearly selective and not for us.
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 29th 2009, 15:20
@ Martinelli,
Int basta tfahhar il blue u tmaqdar lil homor, qied mili il boghod min Malta u l'ugiegh ta min bata xi ingustizzja gejja min fejn gejja ilek ma tiltaqa mieghu !
C. Lia
Dec 29th 2009, 15:17
Profs. Grech illum hu anzjan u wisq probabbli min baghtlu il-bomba hu hekk ukoll, dan ifisser li l-Gudizzju Divin jinsab qrib hafna tieghu u jekk fid-DInja skappa l-kastig, "hemm fuq" se tkun storja ohra, sakemm mhux diga qed ihallas ta` ghemilu.
e fenech
Dec 29th 2009, 15:15
@manuel micallef. so let me understand ,somebody who sprays with bullets the facade of a building packed with people had no intention to kill! ahem, no then what, deliver an early christamas present?
@dominic fenech. why is it referring to other murders dilutes the commemoration of this innocent person? may dominic elaborate. is the pain of the family of the innocent victim who was drinking in a political party club any less than that of the grech' s family? why is it dominic?
Ronald Zammit
Dec 29th 2009, 15:10
Ma nafx ghalfejn is-sur Martinelli hadha daqshekk bi kbira fuq dak li kitteb is-sur Camilleri li fuq kollox qal il pura verita! Bl'ebda mod is-sur Camilleri ma qal li il gvern tal PN kellu l'obligu li jaccetta in nominazzjoni tal PL biex jahtar lil Profs Grech President imma fic cirkustanza jien nahseb li setghat giet ikkunsidrata. Nahseb li bhal hafna(jien l-ewwel wiehed) is-sur Martinelli iktar kellhu jistaghgeb u jitkaza b'dak li kien qal il kap tal PN ta dak iz-zmien li kien ta' x'jifhem li seta ikun jaf min kien il qattiel u li kif ikun fil gvern ser jaghmel investikazjonijiet serji biex issir gustizja. Imma min dan mar-rizulta xejn! Fuq kollox, Il PN kellu iktar cans mill PL biex jinvestiga ghax dam iktar fil gvern! Hijja tassew hasra li il persuna jew persuni li qatlu kemm li Karen Grech u anki lir-Raymond Caruana ghadhom ma gewx quddiem il gustizzja biex jirrispondu ghal emilhom. Il kaz ricenti li gara Hal Qormi rega kexkex il poplu kollu u j'Alla il hatjin jinqabdu u ssir gustizzja fuq dawn il kazijiet kollha. Nixtieq il farrag u sliem lil familjari kollha ta dawn il vitmi u j'Alla ma jkonniex kazijiet ohra bhal dawn.
mario gellel
Dec 29th 2009, 14:53
@Martinelli
Jekk kellek taghti prova li l-uniku demm li ghandek huwa biss Nazjonalist u xejn Malti huwa bil-kumment li ktibt hawn taht. Int taf bizzejjed li kien delitt politiku barbaru mahdun ghal ghan wiehed, dik li joqtlu u u jaqalaw kaos fil-pajjiz.
Kien il-mexxej ghaziz tieghek li waqt Mass meeting qal li kif ikun fil gvern isolvi kemm id-delitt ta Karin Grech u kemm ta Raymond Caruana, u ma solva xejn.
P.Scicluna
Dec 29th 2009, 14:40
@Martinelli
Tinsab hafna l-bghod mill Spirtu tal Milied
Insejt meta politikant kien qall li malli jitla t-tarag ta Kastilja jsolvi dawn iz zewg Qtil ta Karin u ta Raymond.Kien qall li HU kien jaf min kien responsabli.Insejnih dan????//
X'sar minnu dan id diskors?
C. Bartolo
Dec 29th 2009, 14:28
@ J Martinelli: ma nahsibx li l-Profs Grech kien innominat ghal kariga ta' President ghax tilef lil bintu f'din l-ispluzjoni, izda wkoll ghas-snin ta' servizz li ta lill-pajjiz. Servizz bla waqfien anke meta kien hemm min ried ifixkel il-hidma tal-Gvern Socjalista u jorganizza strajk tat-tobba. Ma narax li ghandna nippruvaw innessu dak kollu li ghamel il-Profs Grech meta hu kien wiehed mill-ftit Maltin li ghazlu li jibqghu jaqdu dmirijiethom u ma jaqghux ghal provokazzjoni. Fi kliemu stess, "id-dmir tat-tabib hu li jaghmel l-almu tieghu ghal pazjenti". Nammira nies bhal Profs Grech li ma waqghux ghal provokazzjoni sabiex jintuzaw minn min ried jaghmel il-bsaten fir-roti lill-Gvern Socjalista ta' dak iz-zmien. Sfortunatament bata l-konsegwenzi ghax qeda dmiru.
Kien hemm min qal li se jsolvi dan il-kaz; izda bqajna biss bil-paroli. Bhalma bqajna bil-paroli biss fejn jidhol il-kaz tal-mibki Raymond Caruana, li wkoll kien inqatel minhabba ntolleranza politika.
Xi haga li tghaggibni hi l-fatt li l-familja Grech baqghu ma hadu l-ebda tip ta' kumpens ghal dak li sofrew, mentri mbaghad nies ohrajn qrib hafna tal-PN u li kellhom attentat fuq hajjithom hadu kumpens minghajr ebda problemi. Ghalkemm il-kumpens huwa xieraq ghal din il-familja, l-importanti hu li jinqabad min kien wara dan l-att barbaru.
Manuel Micallef
Dec 29th 2009, 14:22
I really did not want to talk about Raymond Caruana's case - not because I don't feel for Ray's family - but because this is Karen's celebration and remembrance.
But since many are mentioning Ray's - I truly wish both families to find peace and hopefully justice will be made.
Also, may I mention a small detail:-
From the investigations, Raymond's death was a coincidence - in that unkown individual/sshot towards a club to scare people and a stray bullet hit Raymond. Many believe that whoever did this act had no intention to kill - but unfortunately a stray bullet hit the victim. That of course does not mean that justice ought not to be done.
Karen's case, on the other hand was intended from the outset to KILL. KILL any of Prof. Grech's family or himself. It is purpose was just to KILL.
That is quite a difference to me.
Adrian Camilleri
Dec 29th 2009, 14:03
@Martinelli il-Kanadiz
Mhuwiex obbligu, huwa DMIR....dan il-bniedem, jekk ghandek NITFA dicenza, telaq il-karriera tieghu l-Ingilterra u gie hawn Malta ghax emmen f'dak li kien halef ghalih.....li jkun ta servizz lic-cittadin.
Dak il-grazzi li ha l-Profs Grech hħax għażel li ma jabbandunax lill-pazjent Malti filwaqt li ssagrifika l-professjoni barra minn pajjiżna.
R. Zammit
Dec 29th 2009, 13:58
My sympathy with Prof. Grech and his family… a sad, traumatic unsolved saga that is revived every Christmas for the past 32 years!!
No stone should be left unturned to solve such barbaric crimes that unfortunately are still occurring.
J Martinelli
Dec 29th 2009, 13:43
@ Adrian Camilleri
"Dr. Sant kien innomina lil Profs. Grech ghal President tar-Repubblika.....kumpens zghir hafna hafna, hdejn l-gojjell li kellhu f'bintu! Sintendi, l-PN fil-Gvern m accetahx dan!"
Minn mindu il-gvern ghandu xi obbligu li jinnomina qarib ta xi vittma ghal kariga ta President ta' Malta?
Daqs kemm il-gvern Socjalista innomina xi qarib ta Raymond Caruana u ohrajn, ghal kariga ta' President!
Fil-kas ta Karin Grech, kien gvern Socjalista li kellu opportunita li jinvestiga kas shun u ma wasal imkien. Issa li l-kas kesah huwa wisq aktar difficli biex jigi solvut anke jekk il-puluzija qatt ma ghalqet il-file ta dan id-delitt.
Hallina Sur Camilleri. Ahna lkoll Maltin u xorta nhossu ghal vittmi u ghal qrabathom, kemm jekk Laburisti jew Nazzjonalisti, u ghalhekk il-kumment tieghek jhalli toghma qarsa!
Dominic Fenech
Dec 29th 2009, 13:42
Must a commemoration of the unique Karen Grech always be diluted by reference to other incidents? Let's show some respect to her long suffering surviving family.
laurence schembri
Dec 29th 2009, 12:28
Some one must know something or, is it convenient to keep these cases under wrap. Food for thought!
Jesmond Micallef
Dec 29th 2009, 12:14
May I quote : "Karin Grech's murder should continue to be investigated - her parents"
I am in complete agreement.
I wish Prof.Grech and his family Inner Peace, and Closure. But with equal importance I also wish that the Perpertrator to come forward and face his or her actions. A young beautifull life was violently taken away.
My plea to the perpertrators of this violent crime : PLEASE COME FORWARD AND FACE IT, GIVE THE GRECH FAMILY CLOSURE, AND DO JUSTICE TO YOURSELVES. JUST HAVE A LOOK AT THE PICTURE ABOVE.
I sincerely and heartfully wish you Professor Grech and your family, Inner Peace and Justice this world has to offer.
May God Bless us all.
Jesmond Micallef
(Malta, Christmas 2009)
Ivan Vassallo
Dec 29th 2009, 12:05
Dan il-Kaz bhall-iehor ta' Raymond Caruana u Wilfred Cardona ghandhon jigu investigati u jigu assigurati lill-gustizzja dawk kollha li hadu sehem f'dawn id-delitti. J'Alla ma jergax jasal iz-zmien meta Malti jerfa' idejh fuq Malti iehor.
jane camilleri haber
Dec 29th 2009, 11:58
if we look at karen in this way, at least something worthwhile would have come out of this very tragic episode. Karen was robbed of a chance to grow, to fall in love, to become a bride, to bear children, to give grandchildren and nephews and nieces to her family. let us exploit her remembrance to the full so as to lessen more and more the chances of such recurrance. my very best wishes to profs Grech and his family.
jane camilleri haber
Dec 29th 2009, 11:57
I remember very vividly the bewilderment, disgust, pain and shame at the untimely death of this young girl then myself her age. the incidence took me out of the age of innocense and threw me savagely into the real world! I remember how everyone had gone to the funeral even though we did not know her. it was an act of solidarity with a family grieving beyond imagination at the sudden loss of an only daughter and in such terrible circumstances during the christmas season. I still visit dear Karen Grech's grave whenever the occasion arises. Karen stands as a everlivng memorial for all those children who met tragic untimely ends at the brutal hands of heartless sin harshened individuals and a standing memorial also to us all to do everything in our power... all according to our capacities and our individual obligations to foster in our country a climate of dialogue, of trust, of noble behaviour and ...of justice whenever these are contravened.
Manuel Micallef
Dec 29th 2009, 11:42
May Prof Grech find peace. He is right, investigations should continue.... Surely there may be a link somewhere to find teh killers. How could the killers sleep at night, knowing what they have done to a 15 year old.... If they had an issue with her father, they should have taken it up with him. Surely she was innocent at the age of 15.
A. Schembri
Dec 29th 2009, 11:33
It must be very difficult indeed to live through such a terrible experience. Needless to say more effort is required to bring justice to those who deserve it and the Grech family definitely need to see justice done. What happened to their daughter is completely unacceptable. Same goes to the incident last week. There is no place in society for criminals who perform such horrific and barbaric acts. I pray that the Grech family find consolation that the barbarian who committed this act of terror will one day face true justice by God.
Adrian Camilleri
Dec 29th 2009, 11:27
Kif jorqod min ghamel dan l-att BARBARU ???
Kif jorqod min jaf l informazzjoni u ilhu 32 sena jzomm kollox go fih ???
Dr. Sant kien innomina lil Profs. Grech ghal President tar-Repubblika.....kumpens zghir hafna hafna, hdejn l-gojjell li kellhu f'bintu!
Sintendi, l-PN fil-Gvern m accetahx dan!
emanuel fenech
Dec 29th 2009, 11:23
what a abhorrent crime! the murder of this young person and the the equally abhorrent murder of another young person, Raymond Caruana, are crimes which have been committted by despicable persons. they deserve the utter condemnation of all peple of goodwill. however, what i find perplexing is that surley someone other than the murderers themselves must know who sent the parcel bomb and who fired to kill. how on earth can these pepole remain silent and let such devious criminals get away with murder?