Four years after the rape and murder of Paulina Dembska in Sliema , her relatives say they are still waiting for justice as court proceedings continue to drag on.

In a social media post published on Friday, Dembska’s sister, Daria, said the passage of four years had done little to ease the grief — or the frustration that no one has yet been held accountable for her sister’s death.

“Today marks four years since your life was brutally taken from you, Paulina,” she wrote. “Every moment without you is just as hard as that first one. I want to believe that wherever you are, it’s beautiful there, and that you finally have peace.”Daria said she could not ignore the fact that the case remains unresolved.

“I can’t stop thinking about how the person responsible for your death has yet to be held accountable… and it’s been four years,” she said. “I know nothing will bring your life back, but at least if the suspect is eventually convicted, it could give others a chance at safety. Malta, wake up.”

Dembska, a 29-year-old Polish student, was found dead in Independence Gardens, Sliema, on the morning of January 2, 2022. The killing shocked the country and later led to changes in Malta’s criminal code, introducing harsher penalties in cases classified as femicide.

The accused, Abner Aquilina, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the proceedings, court-appointed experts concluded that he was insane at the time of the crime, after he proclaimed himself “the antichrist” in court.

The case has been repeatedly delayed, a situation Dembska’s family has previously said has prevented them from properly mourning their loss. Relatives also said they believed the accused had received more psychological support than the victim’s family.

Aquilina was last brought before the courts in June 2025, after allegedly stabbing a fellow inmate in the eye with a pen while in custody.

Paulina Dembska was the youngest of five siblings. She first visited Malta in 2018 and later returned to study English, a move her family said helped her grow more confident and outgoing.

In 2024, a red bench dedicated to victims of femicide was inaugurated along the Sliema promenade, close to where Dembska was killed. The bench bears a plaque reading: “We remember Paulina. No horror could extinguish her light. No more excuses. Protect women.”

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola also marked the anniversary today, recalling that Dembska was murdered while feeding stray cats on a cold January morning in Sliema.

“Today, remember the light she brought to the world as we renew our calls for a semblance of justice to be served for her and all of us,” Metsola said, urging the public to demand swifter action. “No more excuses.”

Four years after the killing that shook Malta, Dembska’s family says their call remains unchanged: justice delayed continues to feel like justice denied.