A woman identified as 41-year-old Caroline Magri was found dead in her bed at her apartment in Ta’ Giorni yesterday afternoon after reportedly being stabbed to death.
The police, after being called to the scene of the crime at around 5pm, have confirmed they are investigating the case as a homicide.
On Saturday morning the police said that they are holding a man for questioning. He is a 33-year-old foreigner who resides in Sliema. The police did not give the nationality.
Sources close to the investigation speaking to this newspaper claim that the victim’s throat had also been slashed in what police on site described as a “macabre” scene inside the apartment.
Several police officers were on site yesterday, as well as a Crime Scene Investigation unit, an emergency medical team, and Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, who is conducting an inquiry.
The residence is on Triq George P. Badger, Ta’ Giorni.
According to eyewitness reports, the victim’s daughter emerged from the block of flats where the victim lived screaming: “They killed my mother.” She was also seen breaking down in tears as a hearse took her mother’s body away.
But just who ‘they’ are remains an unknown quantity, with police at the scene of the crime keeping details close to their chest as investigations into the slaying began.
This newspaper has ascertained that the victim was known to the police and had a history of prostitution- and drug-related offences.
A chequered history
Ms Magri was just last month involved in a violent altercation and appeared in court on 25 August in connection with a fight that broke out in a Floriana apartment involving her and with three Africans.
The victim had been arraigned in court alongside a Togolese national after the 22 August brawl.
The Togolese, Djibril Ganiou, and Ms Magri were accused of having grievously injured Mamadou Dian Diallo. Mr Ganiou was also accused separately of causing grievous injury to Mohammen Jallow. Ms Magri was also accused of having been in breach of several court rulings. The injured men suffered facial and eye injuries.
Lawyer Franco Debono, who had appeared for the defence along with Dr Marion Camilleri and Dr Amadeus Cachia, had requested bail. Inspector Jeffrey Scicluna, for the prosecution, found no objection to granting Ms Magri bail, but objected to Mr Ganiou being granted bail considering he lived in the same apartment as the victims.
On the day, Magistrate Antonio Micallef Trigona heard that Mr Ganiou was able to find accommodation elsewhere, and as such both were granted bail on condition that they both stayed in Ms Magri's apartment, and against personal guarantees of €5,000.
The pair, Ms Magri and Mr Ganiou, was in court previously, in 2015, after the latter was accused of threatening and injuring Ms Magri and a police officer. Ms Magri, however, forgave Mr Ganiou and he was released on bail.