Victim ‘had reported alleged killer to the police’

The man accused of murdering his former girlfriend in Żebbiegħ on Saturday had been reported to the police for allegedly chasing her with a knife, sources have told this newspaper.

The report was filed by the murder victim, 40-year-old Christina Sammut, at the Rabat police station four weeks ago.

Bus driver and jockey Kenneth Gafà, 38, of Marsa, yesterday pleaded not guilty to killing her in an arraignment that was over in minutes. He was remanded in custody.

Mr Gafà has a pending case against him for harassing Mrs Sammut, who has a 15-year-old daughter.

The sources said that besides the recent report she filed with the Rabat police she had made others about his alleged abusive behaviour but had ended up retracting them as she feared his wrath.

Police investigating the murder case believe the accused could not come to terms with the break-up of their one-year relationship and continued to pursue her.

In yesterday’s arraignment, Mr Gafà also pleaded not guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm, firing it in an inhabited area, harassing her and her sister-in-law and threatening her. He also denied relapsing.

On Saturday afternoon, Mrs Sammut drove up to Żebbiegħ to meet her new boyfriend and, while waiting in her car, Mr Gafà allegedly drove up in a hired van, got out of the vehicle and shot her twice in the neck through the window.

Apparently her boyfriend did not realise she was parked there, although they were just metres apart, and on hearing the shots went to see what had happened, only to find her in a pool of blood.

Police Inspectors Daniel Zammit, Chris Pullicino and Edmund Cuschieri prosecuted.

Lawyers Emanuel Mallia and Arthur Azzopardi appeared for the family parte civile.

Lawyers Steve Tonna Lowell, Gianluca Caruana Curran, Gianella Caruana Curran and Joseph Giglio appeared for the accused.