Birkirkara murder suspect granted bail

The man suspected of having murdered Birkirkara resident Roderick Grech on a March night, has been granted bail against a deposit of €10,000 and a personal guarantee of €30,000.

Etienne Bartolo, il-Vojt, has been accused of fatally stabbing Grech during an argument. Bartolo had told the police that Grech had been his drug dealer. Bartolo had admitted that he had lacked the necessary funds and an argument erupted between the two. Bartolo claimed to have stabbed Grech in self defence.

The 36-year-old man has been granted bail under a number of strict conditions, including signing the bail book every day at the police station between 8am and 8pm and must remain indoors between 10pm and 7am.

Bartolo has been placed under a provisional supervision order and has been warned to stay away from any of the prosecution’s witnesses.

Police officers had found Grech semi-conscious victim propped up against a wall as a passer-by attempted to stop the flow of blood from his chest.

His eyes had been “almost closed” and didn’t speak to the officers. But moments earlier, the victim had repeatedly uttered the word “Vojt” to a passer-by who had stopped to help him.