A 49-year-old man from Catania, residing in Malta, appeared before a magistrate on Thursday to face charges of attempted murder involving his two young children. The court appearance follows a harrowing incident on Sunday night and a subsequent three-day search by police.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, as well as charges of grievous bodily harm and holding the minors against their will.

The Night of the Incident

The alarm was raised around 10:15 PM on Sunday when a motorist discovered a 10-year-old girl on the Coast Road seeking help. According to Police Inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra, the child informed officers at the St Julian’s police station that her father had attempted to strangle her and claimed he had killed her brother.

Upon arriving at the White Rocks area, police discovered the 12-year-old boy in a critical state. The boy was found in a pool of blood, having suffered multiple severe blows to the head. He was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he remains in the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) in a life-threatening condition. The daughter has since been released from medical care.

A Chilling Admission

Investigations revealed a series of disturbing communications following the attack. The children’s mother received a phone call from her husband shortly after the incident, during which he allegedly stated in Italian: “Take the daughter, the son is in heaven.”

The father also contacted a flatmate, reportedly saying, “I made a huge mistake,” and giving instructions that the money found in his home should be used for his funeral. These remarks, along with further calls to other individuals, led authorities to believe the man was a danger to himself. During the initial search, officers located his van with a rope and noose attached.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

The three-day manhunt concluded at 6:40 PM on Tuesday when an officer spotted the suspect. At the time of his arrest, the man was limping and required treatment at Mater Dei Hospital for injuries consistent with a fall. It is understood he attempted to end his life by jumping onto rocks but fell into the sea instead, resulting in several broken ribs.

During interrogation, the man directed police to a notebook in a caravan where he had been hiding. The notes reportedly detailed his actions toward his son and expressed remorse, stating his intention to end his life because he believed the boy was dead.

The accused, who has lived in Malta for 15 years, was undergoing a separation from his wife at the time of the incident. Despite the gravity of the charges, he was described as having previously maintained a good relationship with his children.

Bail was not requested at this stage. The case was presided over by Magistrate Elaine Rizzo, with a legal team representing the Attorney General’s office, the police, the accused, and the mother as parte civile.