A murder suspect’s employer, Julian Grech, told police that Andrew Mangion said the relationship with his wife went downhill after his daughter was born nine years ago. He also claimed that his wife used to cheat on him.
Mr Grech told police that, on one occasion, Mr Mangion told him that he was ready to beat up his wife. He talked Mr Mangion out of doing anything he would regret. He advised him to leave his wife, and even gave him the name of a laweyer.
Eleanor Mangion Walker's body was found in a Qormi warehouse on 3 July after a tipoff from Mr Mangion’s uncle Grezzju Micallef. Mangion, 40, is pleading not guilty to murder.
During compilation of evidence today, prosecuting officer Kylie Borg told the court that Ms Walker’s daughter was vaguely aware of what was going on at the time her mother went missing and her father was on the run from the police.
The daughter kept on hoping that her mother would walk through the door of their family home.
“As long as mummy did not die, I think I will see her. She will come at night, if I do not sleep I will see her,” the young girl told the police, shortly before being told of her mother’s death.
Inspector Borg testified that Ms Mangion Walker’s daughter said her parents did not fight in front of her.
Inspector Borg testified that the murder suspect said he did not want to leave his wife’s body in the hot warehouse but had intended to either burn it or throw it down a well.
During the interrogation Mr Mangion insisted that his wife was murdered in his Swieqi garage before his very eyes by two armed men. He feared the murder would be pinned on him, so he decided to hide all the evidence.
At the end of the sitting, Magistrate Doreen Clarke was asked to rule on a request by the murder suspect’s uncle to be exempted from testifying in court.
Asked why he did not wish to testify, Mr Mangion’s uncle said he had already given his version of events to the police “six times”.
A ruling is expected during the next sitting on 1 September.
Lawyer Joe Giglio appeared for the accused while lawyers Michael and Lucio Sciriha are parte civile.
Inspectors Keith Arnaud and Kylie Borg are prosecuting.