Inspector Kurt Zahra testified that John Cassar expressed regret upon learning his 74-year-old father, Ganni, had survived an attack at their Mqabba home on October 15.

During the compilation of evidence against the 47-yeatr-old who is accused of murdering his mother and injuring his father, investigators revealed that 72-year-old Mary Grace Cassar ultimately died of asphyxiation, having been found face up in the kitchen with a shirt knotted around her neck alongside suffering blunt force trauma and non-fatal stab wounds.

The court was told that prior to the tragedy, Mary Grace had asked the accused's wife, Rosalie, for a Caritas contact because her son was unwell and had taken money from her.

Timeline evidence from CCTV footage showed Cassar entering the family residence at 1.11pm while his mother was alone, his father arriving at 1.36pm, and the accused departing at 2.08pm, with medical estimates placing the time of death at approximately 1.30pm.

Emergency services arrived at the scene around 3pm to find Mary Grace deceased and her husband injured.

Police tracked down the accused at his Ħal-Farruġ residence after a friend connected with him via video call. Inspector Zahra noted that Cassar grew aggressive before confessing to the killings and referencing financial grievances and years of distress.

Inspector Zahra located the suspect after a friend of the accused, Saviour Cassar, made contact with him via a video call while officers were at the crime scene.

The inspector dispatched the Rapid Intervention Unit to Cassar's home in Ħal-Farruġ and subsequently arrived on site himself.

During subsequent video communications, Cassar explicitly told police not to question him because he had killed both of his parents, while also making references to personal grievances, financial disputes involving third parties, and posting concerning messages on Facebook regarding years of alleged torture.

Cassar eventually surrendered to officers at 4.36pm, declining legal counsel at the time of his arrest.

Court proceedings are set to resume on November 2.