The victim, Silvana Muscat, with her estranged husband Nour Hamid, suspected of her murder. Photo: FacebookA Libyan man suspected of killing his estranged wife Silvana Muscat bought the knife used in the attack just hours before the brutal stabbing.
Nour Hamid, 35, is still on the run after police named him as the prime suspect in the murder of Ms Muscat, 36, who last Thursday was found dead in a pool of blood in her St Paul’s Bay apartment bedroom.
Ms Muscat died after being stabbed twice in the back and three times in the chest. Sources said they believed Mr Hamid purchased the murder weapon from a shop in St Paul’s Bay not long before she was killed.
An autopsy result concluded that the time of death was Wednesday evening.
The knife was found by the police in the common area leading to the roof of the apartment block. It is still not clear how Mr Hamid allegedly entered the apartment but police said initial investigations revealed no signs of a break-in.
She died after being stabbed five times
Her body was found in the apartment in Triq l-Isponoż after a concerned friend who could not get in touch with Ms Muscat contacted family.
Ms Muscat was undergoing separation proceedings from Mr Hamid. Known on Facebook as Ja Jean, Mr Hamid left Malta for Italy on Wednesday after the murder was committed, the police believe.
He parked his BMW at the airport, purchased a plane ticket to Bergamo and flew out.
Although there has been no confirmation about his whereabouts, sources said the police have “a good idea” where he is.
A European Arrest Warrant has been issued.
Originally from Mosta, Ms Muscat had filed three reports against her husband in January and February. The first report filed recorded Ms Muscat’s separation from her husband due to adultery.
She filed a second one after Mr Hamid broke a glass pane and the third one after he psychologically harassed her. He was arraigned under arrest on the third report and pleaded guilty.
The court jailed him for six months suspended for two years and fined him €100. He was also bound by a €1,000 guarantee not to approach Ms Muscat.
Women have the right to be treated with dignity and get protection
The woman’s murder led to an outpouring of support from the public and organisations, which called for support of victims of domestic violence.
Ruth Farrugia, Director General of the President’s Foundation for the Well-being of Society, yesterday expressed “grave concern” at an example of failure to provide security to victims.
She called upon the authorities to step up safety measures for those who reported cases of domestic violence.
Dr Farrugia said it was time for domestic violence to be acknowledged as an issue of human rights.
Women have the right to be treated with dignity and to expect protection from aggressors, as reiterated in European Court of Human Rights judgments, she said.
During a Single Parents Forum, held recently at San Anton Palace, a number of women spoke of their fear that they were not being taken seriously when reporting cases of domestic violence to the authorities.