Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Stabbing Woman On St Julian’s Beach
A Columbian man is being charged with the attempted murder of a 25-year-old woman who was stabbed while at a beach in St Julian’s and was critically injured.
She suffered two stab wounds to her chest after she was attacked on Wednesday.
21-year-old Fabian Medina Paira was charged in court earlier today with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, breach of public peace and living a vagrant life, according to the Times of Malta.
The man has no fixed address.
The attack was allegedly caught on camera with footage being traced to a car park in Pembroke where he was arrested that same evening.
Using his right to silence, the defendant answered no questions in court.
At around 9am on Wednesday, police were informed of an incident at a rocky beach in Triq il-Wilġa, Prosecuting Inspector Shawn Pawney explained in court.
A person who was with the victim detailed the attack to the police, saying it involved a sharp and pointed weapon.
When the victim was taken to Mater Dei, she was at risk of dying and has since has surgery.
She was able to confirm today that she did not know the alleged aggressor.
The police spent a day tracing the footage from the Dragonara beach to a Pembroke car park where the man was spotted in the same clothes.
Here, he was arrested but needed medical assistance before being taken into police custody. His face was bruised and his nose scarred.
Paira was assisted by an interpreter and he told his lawyer “there are things here which I didn’t do.”
However, after being explained his legal rights by presiding magistrate Kevan Azzopardi, he chose to stay silent throughout the sitting. The court minuted his plea as “not guilty.”
The court issued a protection order in favour of the woman, her family and friends.
Bail was not requested at this stage.
Attorney General lawyers Kaylie Bonett and Martina Muscat prosecuted together with inspectors Shawn Pawney and Nico Zarb. Lawyer Mark Busuttil was legal aid counsel.
Image of Paira: One News
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