A 29-year-old man was yesterday jailed for 40 years after admitting to killing his ex-partner’s mother when he stabbed her 10 times in a frenzied attack in Cospicua in 2009. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of his ex-partner and her brother.

Clive Farrugia of Cospicua avoided a trial by jury by pleading guilty to the murder of Maria Theresa Vella, 62, who had intervened to protect her daughter, Mary Grace, after he stabbed her.

The pre-meditated attack happened on May 8, 2009, at the Vella family residence in St Lazarus Street.

Mary Grace Vella and Mr Farrugia dated for some time and had a child, who at the time of the incident was two years old. Ms Vella was home when Mr Farrugia turned up to see the boy.

She had ended the relationship about two weeks earlier and Mr Farrugia could not accept that she was already seeing another man.

The court heard that he had gone to the residence twice before, armed with a knife, but turned back when he saw her brother’s car parked outside the house.

On the day of the crime, Mr Farrugia told her he loved her dearly and wanted to get back with her, but she refused, telling him he was miserly and a workaholic.

It was at this moment that he produced a knife and started to stab her frantically, at first in the legs. She had been stabbed 11 times before her mother rushed into the room, having heard her daughter’s screams.

Mr Farrugia’s attack then turned to the mother, Maria Theresa Vella. He stabbed her 10 times in several parts of her body, including in her chest, legs and neck. Mr Farrugia then turned the knife on himself, inflicting wounds to his own abdomen.

When he heard the commotion, his ex-girlfriend’s brother, Joseph, a police sergeant who was asleep upstairs, rushed into the room and managed to restrain Mr Farrugia after a struggle.

Ms Vella said she had forgiven Mr Farrugia for killing her mother and trying to kill her and her brother, and she even allowed him to see his son after the murder.

Mr Justice Michael Mallia jailed Mr Farrugia for the murder and two attempted murders.

Police Inspectors Daniel Zammit and Fabian Fleri prosecuted. Lawyers Arthur Azzopardi and Kathleen Grima appeared parte civile for the Vella family while lawyer Malcolm Mifsud appeared for Mr Farrugia.