A deep wound in the upper thigh, puncturing a vital artery was the probable cause of death of a Libyan man allegedly stabbed by two compatriots inside their Birkirkara home on the night of November 25, a court heard on Thursday.

The compilation of evidence before Magistrate Doreen Clarke against Siraj S.B. Shalgum, 36, and Husain Saleh Belgasem Shalgum, 31, two brothers facing murder charges over the death of 40-year old Fouzi Fari Etwaish following an argument inside their home in Bwieraq Street, started onThursday.

Taking the witness stand, Inspector James Grech explained how on that fateful November night, close to 3.20am, police at the Birkirkara station had received a request to assist a person who, they were told, had tumbled down the stairs inside a residence close by.

In the meantime, a male caller with an Arab accent had phoned the hospital’s emergency department for an ambulance. The nurse took the call later told the police that although she could not clearly understand the caller, knife wounds had been mentioned.

When police arrived on the scene, they saw splashes of blood at the entrance to the house, on the stairway and in the kitchen on the first floor. A considerable amount of blood-stained soapy water on the street outside seemed to indicate that the two suspects had attempted to wash away the tell-tale traces before the arrival of the police.

Both brothers insisted they had not argued with the victim that night but neighbours told the police they had been jolted out of their sleep at around 1.30am by shouts and noises from the Libyans’ residence.

One woman had recalled hearing raised voices which she could not understand, later followed by a heavy thud.

Under police questioning, the elder brother had explained how Mr Etwaish had been sharing their residence over the past few weeks. On the evening preceding the incident, the victim and the younger brother had gone out together.

The latter had likewise stated that he had accompanied the victim to Ħamrun where they spent the evening drinking beer. It was upon their return home, while Mr Husain was in the bathroom and his brother was in bed, that Mr Etwaish had allegedly fallen down the stairs.

Shortly before, the victim had allegedly been chopping vegetables to prepare a meal, having got back home drunk and hungry.

A third party on familiar terms with both accused had told investigators he had personally dropped off Mr Husain and the victim at their home some time before the incident. Both men had been in a drunken state.

The same third party had even driven Mr Husain to a nearby fast food outlet to grab a takeaway and then back home where he saw the drunken man safely up the stairs before taking his leave.

Under interrogation, Mr Husain had later admitted that an argument had broken out because he had not bought a meal for Mr Etwaish who was also hungry.

The elder brother, questioned about a suspected knife wound on the shoulder, had insisted that he had injured himself against the stair railing while trying to lift the victim at the bottom of the stairs.

Although both accused insisted they had rushed to assist their friend when he plunged down the stairs, Inspector Grech pointed out that CCTV footage recovered from a nearby shop indicated that there was a lapse of over an- hour-and-a-half from the time of the shouting to when help arrived.

This footage also showed the victim falling out of the front door, slamming onto the pavement and striking his face against the wheel of a parked vehicle. He was then seen being dragged along the pavement by the accused to make way for them while they washed away the blood stains, the court was told.

Inspector Grech pointed out that all the while the injured man had been losing blood but was apparently still breathing. Forensic experts later confirmed that the victim had suffered five superficial wounds on his arm and a lethal wound in the groin.

A garment found by investigators inside a rubbish bin in the accused’s home had holes compatible to the wounds found on the victim’s arm. The man had been bare chested when he was transported into the ambulance. He died of his grievous injuries shortly after.

Asked by defence lawyer Franco Debono why the police had not acted immediately upon the elder brother’s report, Inspector Grech pointed out that the version given was that a person had fallen down the stairs. No stabbing had been mentioned. Besides, local police had been called on another incident close-by.

The case continues after Christmas when the court is to consider a request for bail.

Inspectors James Grech and Roderick Spiteri prosecuted. Lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia were defence counsel.