Inspector recounts bloody crime scene as Marsalforn murder trial continues

On the third day of the 2022 Marsalforn murder trial, jurors heard detailed testimony from police officers and witnesses as proceedings against Maher Aljasem continued.

Inspector Josef Gauci, who has served in the police force for nine years, recounted the events of the night of 7 May 2022, when the fatal incident occurred.

Gauci told the court that at around 9:15pm, while acting as inspector in Gozo, he was informed by Sergeant Sean Tabone of an argument in Triq il-Wied, Marsalforn.

He was later notified that Fawaz Najem had been seriously injured and subsequently died at Gozo General Hospital. According to initial information, the victim had been stabbed following a fight in which a knife was involved. Aljasem was also hospitalised and kept under arrest during the early stages of the investigation.

Upon arriving at the scene, Gauci described finding extensive blood traces both inside and outside the residence, stretching towards a garden area facing the seafront.

Investigators also recovered a wooden chair and other debris. The garage door was open, with blood visible on the walls, indicating that the altercation had spread across multiple areas of the property. The duty magistrate and several court-appointed experts were called to the scene to assist with the inquiry.

Police established that the victim had been transported to hospital by three individuals in a BMW belonging to one of them. Another injured person later emerged from the residence and was also taken to hospital, where he was subsequently arrested.

In total, six individuals were arrested at Gozo General Hospital and taken to Police Headquarters for questioning. The victim’s belongings, including his mobile phone and clothing, were also collected as evidence. An autopsy later confirmed that Najem died from hypovolemic shock caused by a stab wound to the chest.

Testimony from witnesses provided varying accounts of the events. One individual said he had gone to Marsalforn to meet friends and witnessed a fight involving several people. He recalled seeing someone emerge from a residence holding a knife but could not identify the person due to poor lighting. Another witness corroborated this, adding that the victim had been involved in an earlier altercation that same day.

Other testimonies suggested a sequence of escalating confrontations. One witness said the victim had earlier been taken to a health centre following a morning incident, while later that evening he was found lying injured on the ground. Aljasem’s flatmates claimed that a group of people entered their residence and assaulted them, with one stating he lost consciousness after being struck multiple times.

Another witness said the victim appeared unsteady and covered in blood, and that he saw Aljasem holding an object and striking him. A separate account indicated the group had gone to the residence to threaten Aljasem over money, rather than to fight.

In his interrogation, Aljasem initially confirmed his residence and acknowledged a verbal argument with the victim earlier that day, but refused to answer further questions. In a subsequent statement, he alleged that later that evening a group of around eight individuals entered the residence and assaulted him and his flatmate. He claimed he was dragged to a garage and beaten with rocks, wood and other objects.

Aljasem stated that while on the ground, he picked up a knife that had fallen nearby and waved it in self-defence, believing he may have struck someone, though he could not identify who. He said he later discarded the knife inside the residence. The weapon was never recovered.

Aljasem was arrested on 9 May 2022 and pleaded not guilty when arraigned in court. Inspector Gauci also confirmed the documentation presented as evidence, including the autopsy report and official records relating to the victim.

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