A police inspector this morning described the horrific scene at a Cospicua house where a 60-year-old woman was murdered and her daughter suffered grievous stab wounds allegedly caused by her former partner on May 8.

Police Inspector Daniel Zammit was giving evidence in court in the compilation of evidence against Clive Farrugia, who stands charged with the murder of Maria Theresa Vella and causing grievous injury to her daugher Mary-Grace. He is also accused of slightly injuring Joseph Vella, the victim's son, himself a policeman. He is pleading not guilty.

Inspector Zammit told the court that Mr Vella had told the police that he had been asleep and was woken up by his sister's screams. He rushed to where his sister was and found her and the accused Clive Farrugia fighting each other and covered in blood. He separated them and as Mr Farrugia tried to slash him, he punched him several times.

He then grabbed the accused in a wrist lock and took away his 20cm knife. The accused continued to resist him and tried to bite him. He also said he loved Mary Grace and asked Mr Vella to kill him.

Mr Vella had said be pulled the accused to his room, pushed him to the floor and handcuffed him. But he still continued fighting and managed to kick his injured sister.

Mr Vella told the police that he called out to neighbours to keep the accused on the floor while he could see to his sister and mother. But Mr Farrugia managed to get on his feet again and he had to return to push him to the floor.

Neighbours found Mrs Vella on the floor, struggling to breathe.

Inspector Zammit said two knives were found on the crime scene and there was blood in several rooms.

The inspector said the accused and Mary Grace Vella had been going out for some years and had a two-year old boy. She had been telling the accused that their relationship was over but he would never accept this.

More recently, Mary Grace had started going out with another man. Two days before the incident, on May 6, Clive Farrugia had been stalking Mary Grace and her new boyfriend in Zabbar. At about 10 p.m. he tried to speak to Mary Grace and she asked him to leave. Her boyfriend's father followed them to her home to make sure they were all right. The accused followed the two cars to Cospicua.

The inspector said that Clive Farrugia had admitted that he had been carrying a knife at the time but had not yet decided whether to assault Mary Grace or her friend.

The next day, he returned to Mary Grace's house, again carrying a knife, but then left when he saw her brother's car.

On May 8 he had gone to Mary Grace's house as previously agreed, to see their son. He played with him, but when it was time for him to leave, he locked the door of the room, tried to hug Mary Grace, but then started stabbing her.

The inspector said that Clive Farrugia had told the police in hospital that he had wanted to kill her. As she screamed, her mother want to help and she was stabbed several times.

He then continued to assault Mary Grace until her brother came to her assistance.

The inspector said Maria Theresa Vella was declared dead shortly after being admitted to hospital, and an autopsy showed she suffered three deep stab wounds in her back, one in her face and one in her right shoulder.

Mary Grace Vella suffered multiple stab wounds to her legs, stomach, breasts, arms and face. In total she had 28 wounds and had been in danger of dying.

The accused arrived in hospital unconscious and had been in danger of dying, having suffered a fractured cheek bone and knife wounds on his cheek, lower lip, back and upper arm. None penetrated any body cavity.

The case continues.