The rape and murder of Paulina Dembska was not premeditated with police finding no link between the victim and her alleged attacker, Abner Aquilina. 

Aquilina will be charged with the rape and murder at 6.30pm tonight. Lovin Malta will be following the sitting live. It is as yet unclear whether he would claim insanity.

The presiding magistrate will be Ian Farrugia.

In a press conference, the police said that investigators have looked into several other claims of harassment that have been revealed by media reports. 

Dembska, a 29-year-old Polish national, was murdered on 2nd January at Independence Gardens, Sliema, where she used to feed stray cats.

Lovin Malta has revealed how Aquilina told investigators that he was a “soldier from God” and was acting upon the orders of “frequencies” in the lead up to the murder.

Just half an hour before his arrest, Aquilina allegedly appeared at the Balluta Church, which is close to where Dembska was discovered. He reportedly approached the altar and caused a scene, overturning some seats.

Police do intend to charge Aquilina with an arraignment expected in the next 48 hours. Still, it is as yet unclear whether he will claim insanity. 

The murder has shocked the nation, with many pointing to the country’s long-standing issues with femicide and violence against women as directly leading to these kinds of incidents. However, others have placed further emphasis on the mental health issue in Malta.

Several women have also claimed they were harassed by Aquilina, with Lovin Malta receiving numerous screenshots from messages sent by the murder suspect.

Meanwhile, a woman detailed how she and a friend were confronted by an erratic Aquilina when she visited Xrobb l-Għaġin on New Year’s Eve.

Police have asked women who claimed they were sexually harassed by Aquilina to come forward and file an official complaint, pledging to take it “very seriously”.

If you or someone you know needs to talk about their mental health, please call national support service 179. Alternatively, visit www.kellimni.com; the Richmond Foundation’s OLLI.chat to get in touch online; or the  Kif Int? website.

What do you think of the police’s conclusion?