I refer to the letter ‘PC Santo Cassar – 100 years after his murder’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, March 9) by Carmel Saliba of Victoria.

Being a former police constable, I am interested in such cases, and I would like to provide some additional information about this one.

From documented sources, it emerges that Santo Cassar, known better as Santu, or Santi, was the only policeman from Gozo to have ever been murdered while carrying out his duties. His murder took place on August 1, 1914, almost 100 years ago.

During the months preceding the murder, a certain Ġożwè Micallef of Għarb, who was known for his criminal and defiant nature, had been troubling the police over the illegal possession of a firearm. He used to pass by the police station of his native village, Għarb, at night, telling the police he did not possess a licence to carry firearms.

One of the policemen working at Għarb police station used to warn Micallef that eventually he would put him behind bars (‘Fl-aħħar nitfgħek ġewwa’).

It is likely that on the night of the murder, this police constable was thought to have been on duty. However, Santo Cassar was brought from Malta to work on patrol duty in Żebbuġ, Gozo, instead of him. It is believed that the murder took place at night near the cross in Żebbuġ square by means of a firearm.

The police immediately suspected Micallef.

Micallef was then shot and killed at Triq it-Trux, precisely behind Għarb parish church, on August 16, 1914.

His wife Georgia, née Dimech, was with him when he was shot, but was unharmed.

Micallef was later buried at Għarb cemetery, better known as ‘Iċ-ċimiterju taż-żejt’, in Għarb.

Following her husband’s death, Georgia Micallef went to live with her siblings on a farm situated under the Għolja tas-Salvatur.