AN Irish man has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly stabbed his ex-partner to death.
The body of Nicolette Ghirxi (48) was discovered in her apartment in Birkirkara in the early hours of Monday morning.
The suspect, Edward Johnston (50), was shot by police when he brandished a weapon at them, which was later revealed to be a replica.
At a press conference this morning, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa said officers were called after receiving reports that a man wielding a gun was saying he had just murdered someone.
Officers went to Ms Ghirix’s apartment in Birkirkara, forced entry and found her dead with two knives nearby.
Meanwhile Johnston had fled to St Julian’s, almost four miles away, where he hid in an area behind the Hilton hotel.
Police said negotiations took around three hours before Johnston was shot dead by police after he brandished a weapon at them.
A family member told Times of Malta that Ms Ghirxi and Johnston, who was a resident in Malta, had broken up last December after dating for a year and a half. She began to report the harassment in April.
According to them: “Nicolette had asked him to move in with her. Then, one fine day, she returned home from work only to find that he had moved out and returned to Ireland.”
A few months later, Johnston, who told the Ghirxi family that he was from Dublin, contacted his ex partner, asking to get back together, but she refused.
Commissioner Gafa also confirmed the man and woman had been in a relationship, which had broken down.
There were no previous reports of violence between the two but in April Ms Ghirxi filed two harassment reports against him.
However she had reportedly refused a domestic violence assessment as she did not believe she was at risk.
She filed another report of harassment in May, but police established that Johnston was abroad, describing the emails as harassment but not of a threatening nature.
In July the victim informed police about slanderous posts and that she suspected Johnston was behind them.
On Thursday August 8 at 9pm she informed police by email that Johnston might be in Malta.
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, who is Maltese said Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today.
“Instead, Malta must bury another daughter,” she said. “Another woman murdered, with her former partner the prime suspect.
“Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on. Not one more. Be their voice.”
Magisterial inquiries are under way and the police are holding their own inquiry into the use of a firearm.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has said it is aware of the case.
Autopsies are still taking place and investigations are ongoing.
