Police have questioned several members of the evangelical Christian group River of Love following the possible links murder suspect Abner Aquilina had with the group.
Aquilina was arrested as the prime suspect of the murder of Polish student Paulina Dembska on the 2nd of January in a Sliema public garden. Dembska was raped and strangled according to an autopsy and no link was established between her and Aquilina.
Aquilina’s interrogation was suspended after he was referred to Mount Carmel Hospital. Investigations are attempting to establish Aquilina’s movements prior to the murder, with leads showing the likelihood of Aquilina attending a River of Love ceremony just before the tragedy.
On Thursday, Times of Malta reported the police questioned several members of the organisation, with one eye witness telling the newspaper that Aquilina attended a River of Love ceremony the night before Dembska was murdered.
It is understood that Aquilina allegedly joined members of River of Love for a Żejtun gathering and was meant to sleep over at a church member’s house but did not do so. A family member of Aquilina also told Times of Malta that the accused firs mentioned of the church around two years ago.
With footage on social media showing Aquilina accompanying members of the Christian Group on New Year’s Eve at Xrobb l-Ghagin two days before the murder, the family member also said that Aquilina was urged to seek help in dealing with severe drug addiction. However, upon attending River of Love, a family member claimed to have witnessed ‘brainwashing’ first hand.
River of Love pastor Gordon Manche distanced the church from Aquilina and said that they always cooperate with police when questioned about such interrogations.
In reference to the controversy, the pastor posted to Facebook saying that ‘when everybody is just yelling, it’s mos likely that nobody is listening.’
#MaltaDaily