A 43-year-old Colombian man was arraigned in court on Sunday and charged with the murder of a woman in Sliema a day earlier.

Fabian Eliuth Garcia Parada has been remanded in custody after pleading not guilty to the murder of 43-year-old Sandra Milena Ramirez Prieto.

Garcia Parada, accompanied by a Spanish translator, was also charged with possession of a weapon.

The prosecution, led by Inspectors Michael Vella and Wayne Camilleri, said that on 13 January at around 6:15am, Garcia Parada went willingly to the Sliema police station, with his mobile phone open on an application for translating Spanish to English.

On the application, the words: "I murdered my ex-partner in an argument inside my home," were written, the court, presided over by Magistrate Elaine Rizzo, was told. The accused also wrote down his address on Triq Gorg Borg, Sliema, they said.

Police officers at the station immediately informed him that he was under arrest, and read out his rights. Issues arose due to the language barrier, but he was given a copy translated into Spanish.

Police officers then went to the same address Garcia Parada had given them, with the keys to the apartment. Upon entering, the police found the cadaver of a female in the bedroom, lifeless with several stab wounds, the court was told.

Garcia Parada worked at a restaurant outlet in Qormi. The defence did not request for bail, and the accused remains under arrests.

Lawyers Kaylie Bonnet and Ramon Bonnet Sladden and from the Attorney General's office, as well as Police inspectors Michael Vella and Wayne Camilleri prosecuted.

Legal aid lawyer Julia Micallef Stafrace was defence counsel.