The mother of a woman allegedly stabbed to death by her estranged husband a year ago is fighting for her grandchildren's right to inherit the victim's possessions.

In the absence of a will, the deceased's belongings are normally divided between the spouse and the children.

However, in light of the fact that Roger Agius had admitted that he had murdered his wife Catherine, Consiglia Degiorgio stepped in to fight for her three grandchildren's inheritance.

A court yesterday decided that Mr Agius' failure to react within the stipulated period in the case, which was filed in February, was inexcusable since it was voluntary. The case is now scheduled to continue being heard later this year.

Mrs Agius, 40, was stabbed with a 30-centimetre butcher's knife on July 13, 2009, soon after she got off the bus to go to her mother's house in Neolithic Temples Street, Tarxien, where she resided during separation proceedings, a court had heard during the compilation of evidence.

Mr Agius, then 47, allegedly stabbed her once under her left breast, a blow that was deep enough to kill her.

He had told the police that on the day of the incident he was on his way to Marsascala to collect sea urchins but decided to stop in Tarxien to buy cigarettes and speak to his wife on the possibility of hammering out an amicable out-of-court separation.

He waited for her on the bus stop in the hope of seeing her and when she was a metre or a metre-and-a-half away from him he said she swore at him. On hearing this, he grabbed her by the arm, pulled her close and stabbed her with a knife from his bag, he admitted to police.

Asked why he had not carried a towel but only a butcher's knife in his bag if he was going to the beach, Mr Agius answered he did not need one as he would dry out in the sun.

Meanwhile, Mr Agius, who was remanded in custody, is undergoing criminal proceedings after pleading not guilty to the murder.