Woman accused of causing the death of two elderly men denied bail

A woman was this morning charged with having maliciously and with the intent to kill, caused the death of two elderly men, and with negligence in her care of both men that resulted in unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering.

42-year-old Dragana Mijalkovic pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

The court heard from prosecutors Fabian Fleri and James Grech, how on 12 October 2016, Mijalkovic was taken to the Qawra police station after the police were informed by Mater Dei Hospital that there was an elderly man – Neville Ayres, aged 78 – who was in need of help in an apartment in St Paul’s Bay.

The prosecution explained that once investigations got underway, it was discovered that another person, 67-year-old David Grant, had died under similar circumstances on 6 February 2016, in the same apartment and in the presence of the same woman, Mijalkovic.

Dragana Mijalkovic

The prosecution explained that the woman was arrested because she was not in possession of residence permit or a visa to be in Malta and because following an autopsy carried out on Neville Ayres, foul play could not be excluded. Furthermore, the prosecution said that police had received information from Serbia, that Mijalkovic had been accused of two other crimes in 2004. They had, however, not yet received more information from Serbian authorities.

The court also heard how videos of Grant and Ayres, which were taken by Mijalkovic, were found on her tablet and that the contents of the videos show clearly that there was “negligence” that led to the death of both men.

Prosecutors told the court that Mijalkovic had given multiple explanations for the existence of the videos, however, as far as the police are concerned, it is not yet clear why she did so.

From the police’s investigation, it also transpired that both men were taking the same medication, which Mijalkovic would insist that they take, without a prescription. Investigators are still waiting on the medical records of both men from the UK.

In his final decision, presiding magistrate Ian Farrugia denied Mijalkovic bail due to the possibility that evidence may be tampered with, and because there were genuine concerns over Mijalkovic escaping.

Lawyer Yanica Bugeja was defence counsel.