A knife discovered in the boot of a car has been cited as evidence in court proceedings into the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Fawaz Najem.
Investigators said the knife was found in the BMW which was parked next to the mortuary at the Gozo General Hospital.
The case, which centres on a violent incident at a residence known as ‘Maria’ in Marsalforn, has unfolded over several days of testimony from police officers, forensic experts, and eyewitnesses, gradually piecing together the chaotic events that led to Najem’s death.
Over the course of the first five days of proceedings, the court heard extensive testimony from police officers, experts and witnesses piecing together the circumstances surrounding the fatal stabbing.
On the opening day, police officers testified that they found the accused sitting on the front steps of a Marsalforn residence known as ‘Maria’, with blood present at the scene.
While both confirmed the bloodstains, they gave differing accounts as to whether the apartment door had been open. They also told the court that Fawaz Najem had died by the time he arrived at hospital.
On the second day, jurors were shown footage extracted from CCTV and mobile phones by court-appointed expert Max Xuereb, capturing a violent altercation involving several individuals and the use of objects, including what appeared to be a builder’s ruler.
Police described clear signs of a struggle, including broken furniture and debris, while the accused was found injured but calm outside the residence. A flatmate also testified that a group of men, one carrying an iron pipe, entered the apartment and assaulted those inside, leaving him unconscious.
By the third day, investigators confirmed that the weapon used in the fatal stabbing has never been identified. Although several knives were recovered, none has been conclusively linked to the fatal injury. An autopsy established that Najem died from hypovolemic shock caused by a stab wound to the chest.
Witness accounts varied, with some describing a multi-person fight and others alleging that a group forced entry into the residence. The accused maintained he had been attacked and may have acted in self-defence.
On the fourth day, forensic expert Mario Scerri told the court that the death was “not a natural one, but a violent one”, explaining that Najem sustained stab wounds to the chest measuring approximately 1.9cm which pierced the heart.
The wounds were consistent with a sharp, pointed instrument and showed signs of movement during the attack, while other injuries suggested restraint and defensive action.
Proceedings on the first part of the fifth day added further context through witness testimony and forensic evidence, including accounts of an earlier argument between the victim and the accused, a group assault at the residence, and the documentation and examination of the scene by forensic officers.
Najem, a 25-year-old Syrian national, died from hypovolemic shock caused by a stab wound to the chest which pierced his heart.
Lawyers Angele Vella and Cynthia Tomasuolo are prosecuting on behalf of the Attorney General.
Lawyers Peter Fenech, Elena Fenech and Amy Zahra are appearing for the accused, while Franco Debono and Matthew Xuereb are representing the victim’s family.
