Family members of Chantelle Chetcuti have told The Malta Independent of their devastation at the murder of the “always smiling” and “down to earth” mother of two.
Chetcuti died late on Monday after being stabbed at least five times in the head on Sunday evening, in what is the first murder of the new decade in Malta.
She was found unconscious on a pavement in Main Street in Zabbar on Sunday, and was taken to Mater Dei Hospital where she was certified as being in critical condition. She succumbed to her injuries the following day.
On Sunday evening after the stabbing, a man gave himself up to the police. A police statement read that he was full of blood at the time and had wounds on his hands. A search also resulted that he was carrying illicit substances suspected to be drugs.
The man, 33-years old from Safi, will be charged in court later today with Chetcuti’s murder and with possession of drugs, amongst other charges.
“She was a very happy, down to earth person. She was always smiling and laughing and full of energy, and was a very good mother to her two daughters,” family members said of her when speaking to this newsroom.
“She was a very strong woman who refused to stay in a difficult relationship,” they said.
“We are devastated. Our lives have been turned upside down in a matter of 24 hours. We have no more tears to shed,” they added.
“We would like to send the message that victims of domestic violence should be given justice, and domestic violence should stop once and for all,” the family appealed.
“The cruellest thing in life is for a parent to bury their child.”
Many took to social media to post their testimonies to Chetcuti, with many posting on her own Facebook wall describing her and their own shock at the events of the past two days.
Her murder has elicited strong reactions from many, with figures such as Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rosianne Cutajar, MEPs Roberta Metsola, Josianne Cutajar, and Miriam Dalli, and Women’s Rights Foundation director Lara Dimitrijevic all united in the condemnation of the murder and of domestic violence.
Chetcuti is the 14th woman to have died at the hands of their partner in the past decade.
Christine Sammut, Irena Abadzhiev, Karen Cheatle, Yvette Gajda, Margaret Mifsud, Meryem Bugeja, Silvana Muscat, Caroline Magri, Eleanor Mangion, Maria Carmela Fenech, Antonia Micallef, Shannon Mak, and Lourdes Agius were all victims of femicide and domestic violence.