Entrepreneur Anġlu Xuereb’s autobiography, Angelo, which will be released next week, includes a final chapter on the New Year’s Eve stabbing tragedy that befell his daughter’s family.
The autobiography, to be published on June 15 – his 60th birthday – comes with the endorsement of the famous lateral thinker Edward de Bono, who describes the book as a “remarkable” and “honest” account that makes for very interesting reading.
In the chapter dedicated to the murder of his son-in-law, Duncan Zammit, Mr Xuereb expands on the love between his daughter, Claire, and her late husband, who he describes as a “hero” that died fighting to save his wife and twins.
This is how he describes the incident: “A 26-year-old intruder, probably after overdoing it drinking on New Year’s Eve, broke into the penthouse and made straight for the kitchen where he selected the two longest knives.
“Then he entered the bedroom and inflicted a deep wound on Duncan’s body.”
Pushing “the aggressor” – Nicholas Gera – away from the bedroom where his newborn twins slept near him and his wife, Mr Zammit managed to disarm the “intruder” of one of the knives, giving him “a fairer chance to fight for his life”.
“He somehow managed to fight back, trying hard to keep the aggressor away from the bedroom. And he succeeded, albeit dying in the process. Both died in the struggle, leaving Claire a widow and their two little angels fatherless.”
Although this chapter will undoubtedly receive the most attention, the bulk of the book is aimed at “inspiring” those determined to succeed and trails the rise of the developer who transformed a small loan from his girlfriend into a multimillion-euro group of companies, AX Holdings.
The book’s blurb quotes an incident when he was 13 and was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. His determined and self-fulfilling reply was: “A businessman. A successful businessman.”
The book includes personal insights into Malta’s history and politics, with a special focus on his stint in public service, as mayor of his hometown Naxxar and as a political candidate with the unsuccessful Azzjoni Nazzjonali.
In the chapter dedicated to politics, he describes Labour leader Joseph Muscat as “a man with a vision” who could be the catalyst for the changes the Labour Party needs to effect to be successful in the next election.
The book begins with the quirky and brazen admission that Mr Xuereb had lived his life without ever reading a single book but managed to read a novel while writing the autobiography.
“I found the book so interesting and relaxing that I’ve started and finished others as well. When I finish writing this book I’ll read it, of course, but it won’t count, will it?
“I just hope it will be as interesting as the others I’ve read, that’s all.”
Mr Xuereb says he handwrote the book, which was then edited by Charles Micallef St John. It was published by the UK-based Book Guild Publishing, an independent publishing house.
All proceeds will be donated to charity.