Arguments over money and death threats: Għaxaq murder compilation continues

Salvu Dalli and his son Antoine had been quarrelling over money, a court heard on Friday.

Dalli, 68, stands charged with shooting his 37-year-old son dead in Għaxaq last month.

When the compilation of evidence resumed on Friday, the court heard how the father and two of his sons had been fighting over a financial dispute, and threats had been exchanged. The argument had been ongoing for a number of months, and Antoine had been kicked out of the house earlier this summer.

Inspector Keith Arnaud, prosecuting, summoned a number of witnesses who presented various domestic dispute reports going back months.

Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia heard how police had to break up a fight between the accused and the victim the night before the fatal shooting.

Antoine Dalli had reported that his father had threatened to kill him, a police constable said. The two had fought over the father’s decision to kick his son out of the house.

Another police officer said he had been informed, in June, about a commotion at the Dalli residence. Antoine Dalli had told officers he had been kicked out by his father.

Other officers said that Antoine had called his brother at 4am the day he was killed and told him he would ensure that he would lose custody of his children. He called again later, telling his brother he would burn down his house.

The court also heard how the accused had allegedly attacked a woman with a pocketknife, inside her home, in February. While this was unrelated to the murder case, it sheds light on Dalli’s character, the prosecution said.

In another case, the victim had been arrested after he was found with a hunting shotgun after dark.

Lawyer Lennox Vella appeared for Antoine Dalli.

Lawyers Franco Debono, Francesca Zarb, and Kathleen Calleja Grima, appeared parte civile.