During a press conference, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa outlined the events that unfolded this morning which resulted in the murder of Nicolette Ghirxi and the stand-off with the suspect.
3 hour negotiations took place between the suspect, who was in the sea with a gun pointed at his head in St Julian’s.
The man was identified as Edward William Johnston, an 50 year old Irish man, and had entered a hotel in St Julian’s and threatened employees.
Johnston revealed that he had murdered a person moments before, leading to the police investigating and confirming the death of Ghirxi.
Police were forced to break down the door due to no response and found Ghirxi lifeless with the weapon, a knife, found next to her.
During the negotiations, Johnston was asked to come back onto land, which he eventually did but at around 3am he pointed the weapon towards the police.
Despite demands to put the weapon down, the man leapt at one of the officers and this resulted in action taken by the police and him being shot. He was transported to Mater Dei Hospital and was confirmed dead moments later.
Autopsies are still taking place.
Ghirxi had issued reports in April of this year after the two had ended a relationship together. The victim insisted that she was not under risk and thus the risk assessment did not take place, Gafa reported.
The aggressor had reportedly been back in Ireland. Last Thursday, at around 9pm, Ghirxi informed the police that Johnston was possibly in Malta.
In July, Ghirxi had made other reports that the aggressor had issued posts on social media about her but still reportedly refused the risk assessments.
Investigations are still ongoing.
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