Man Remanded Over Mqabba Murder After Allegedly Claiming He Killed Parents
· Updated
In brief
- John Cassar was remanded in custody after being charged with murdering his mother and attempting to murder his father in Mqabba.
- The court heard that the accused allegedly sent voice messages shortly after the attack claiming he had killed both parents.
- Magistrate Nadia Helena Vella ordered Cassar to be held at the Corradino Correctional Facility as criminal proceedings begin.
A man accused of murdering his mother and attempting to kill his father at their residence in Mqabba has been remanded in custody following his arraignment in court.
John Cassar appeared before Magistrate Nadia Helena Vella on Saturday afternoon, where he faced formal charges of aggravated wilful homicide and attempted murder in connection with the violent assault.
During the arraignment, prosecutors informed the court that the accused allegedly sent voice messages to an acquaintance shortly after the incident occurred. In those recordings, he reportedly claimed that he had killed both of his parents.
The fatal attack occurred inside the family home in Mqabba, where his mother, Mary Grace Cassar, sustained fatal injuries inflicted with a screwdriver. The suspect's father was also assaulted during the altercation but survived.
Police officers detained Cassar shortly after the incident and gathered forensic evidence along with witness statements detailing his communications in the immediate aftermath of the killing.
No request for bail was submitted during the court appearance, and Magistrate Vella ordered that Cassar be held in preventative detention at the Corradino Correctional Facility as legal proceedings continue.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both outlets reported the court arraignment and alleged voice messages consistently without notable framing differences.
Updates
- : Updated with reporting from Times of Malta and NET News: toxicology tests revealed John Cassar had a mixture of cocaine, crack, and heroin in his system, while he also made contradictory statements claiming his mother was still alive.