Brothers plead not guilty to Birkirkara murder

Two Libyan brothers yesterday pleaded not guilty to the murder of another Libyan national who had been stabbed to death in Birkirkara a week earlier.

Despite denying the charges, Siraj Shalgum, 36, and his younger brother Husam Shalgom, 31, did not make a request for bail and were remanded in custody.

Before Magistrate Josette Demicoli, the men were charged with having, on the night of 25 November, killed 40-year-old Fouzi Farj Etwaish.

The incident took place in Bwieraq Street, Birkirkara, where the accused live, at 2.30am. Etwaish, who suffered stab wounds, succumbed to his injuries in hospital some time later.

The brothers were also charged with having tried to hide evidence of the crime and with being in possession of an unlicensed weapon.

The older brother also stands charged with making a false declaration.

Police Inspector James Grech, prosecuting, explained that the man had filed a false report in which he claimed that the victim had fallen down a flight of stairs. An autopsy confirmed the victim had been stabbed to death.

The court was told that the brothers had been arrested and questioned after the murder but were later released on police bail because there was not sufficient evidence against them within the 48-hour window afforded to police by law.

The men were rearrested after the police looked at CCTV footage and forensic evidence gathered during four searches carried out at their home.

Lawyer Joe Brincat, appearing for the brothers, challenged their arraignment under arrest. Magistrate Demicoli, however, upheld the police’s decision on the strength of the “circumstance of the case.”