The family of the English woman who was found dead yesterday in her apartment in Qawra had tried several times to reach her in the past months, a childhood friend told The Malta Independent today.

The woman, Janet Harvey, 69, is believed to have been dead for the three months. According to reports, the woman’s husband, who is also English, did not file a report after the woman’s death.

The grim discovery of the decomposing body was made during a search carried out by the police at the couple's apartment in Triq San Luqa, Qawra, after the British High Commission alerted them that the woman had been missing for a number of weeks.

The Malta Independent is informed that Janet’s family had been trying to get in touch with her for the past weeks and had never managed to speak to her. Family members were always told by her husband that she was ok but she was unable to speak to them because she was on errands or had appointments. Sources told this newsroom that the family also checked with Mater Dei hospital is see if she was being treated there.

A childhood friend told The Malta Independent that she “could not believe Janet is no longer with us. I am in shock. She was a beautiful, successful and intelligent person. She married late in life and together with her English husband they came to live in Malta in 2005. 

Her friend said that, “a few years ago Janet was involved in a car accident and this left her physically impaired. She was a kind-hearted person and although she did not have children she loved her family.”

Janet’s body was found covered on her bed. Her husband is being questioned by police to shed light on the circumstances surrounding her death.

The police are also speaking to neighbours to understand better the dynamics of the incident.