---
title: "Mqabba Suspect Identified as Roderick Cassar's Brother as Father Remains Critical"
date: 2026-10-16T05:01:36.691+00:00
updated: 2026-10-16T05:01:36.691+00:00
topics: ["Crime", "Courts", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-10-16/mqabba-suspect-identified-as-roderick-cassars-brother-father-critical
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Mqabba Suspect Identified as Roderick Cassar's Brother as Father Remains Critical

## In brief

- John Cassar, arrested over the fatal stabbing of his mother in Mqabba, has been identified as the brother of convicted murderer Roderick Cassar.
- The suspect's 74-year-old father remains in critical condition in hospital and is at risk of dying.
- Reports indicate the suspect was active on social media around the time of the attack, posting updates even after the incident.

Yesterday, Fil-Qosor reported on [the arrest of a suspect following a fatal domestic stabbing in Mqabba](/article/2026-10-15/man-arrested-in-hal-farrug-following-fatal-domestic-stabbing-in-mqabba). Fresh details have now emerged regarding the background of the accused individual and the medical condition of the surviving victim.

The man taken into custody has been identified as 47-year-old John Cassar. He is the son of the two victims involved in Thursday afternoon's violent altercation at a family residence in Triq Valletta, Mqabba.

It has been confirmed that John Cassar is the brother of Roderick Cassar. Roderick Cassar was convicted of the November 2022 murder of his estranged wife, Bernice Cilia, in a high-profile case that marked Malta's first prosecution under femicide laws.

Hospital authorities confirmed that the suspect's 74-year-old father is currently fighting for his life. The elderly man suffered severe stab injuries during the altercation and remains at risk of dying while receiving intensive care.

The assault claimed the life of the suspect's 72-year-old mother. Police officers arriving at the property discovered her unconscious with fatal knife wounds, and medical staff certified her dead at the scene.

Investigators established that John Cassar had been posting extensively on social media in the lead-up to the event. Reports indicate he continued to publish messages on Facebook shortly after the violent attack on his parents had taken place.

Following the stabbing, the suspect fled the Mqabba residence, triggering an immediate manhunt. Specialised police units tracked him to an area in Ħal Farruġ, where he was apprehended after an armed standoff.

A magisterial inquiry is underway alongside formal criminal investigations led by the police force. Investigators and forensic experts are continuing to gather evidence to reconstruct the precise sequence of events leading up to the homicide.

## The Spin Room

**Low media divide.** Both outlets reported the developments consistently, focusing on the victims' condition and the suspect's familial ties.

## Sources (4, 2 outlets)

- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/least-one-injured-suspected-stabbing-mqabba.1135635)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/man-arrested-mqabba-killing-brother-bernice-cilia-murderer.1135641)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/news/mqabba-homicide-suspect-john-cassar-is-brother-of-convicted-murderer-roderick-cassar/)
- [Lovin Malta](https://lovinmalta.com/news/74-year-old-man-at-risk-of-dying-after-mqabba-attack/)

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