[WATCH] Bernice Cassar murder: Husband Roderick Cassar charged with femicide

Roderick Cassar is the first person to be charged with femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, following the murder of his wife Bernice Cassar on Tuesday as she was driving to work

Roderick Cassar with his face covered by a jacket on the back seat of a police car as he was being driven away to prison (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)
Roderick Cassar with his face covered by a jacket on the back seat of a police car as he was being driven away to prison (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)

The husband of murder victim Bernice Cassar was charged on Thursday with wilful femicide, an aggravated form of homicide, and remanded in custody.

Roderick Cassar, 42, from Qrendi pleaded not guilty to the charges and no bail was requested.

The man was arrested at 2am on Wednesday after the Special Intervention Unit made a forced entry into his Qrendi house were he had been holed up for 17 hours. Police used flash-bangs to immobilise the murder suspect, and also seized the suspected murder weapon, a shotgun.

This is the first time that femicide is being used as an aggravating offence in a court of law after it was introduced in the Criminal Code earlier this year, following the New Year's Day murder of Paulina Dembska.

Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri were defence counsel. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Marita Pace Dimech appeared parte civile for the victim's family.

Roderick Cassar was charged with wilful femicide, holding his victim against her will, using violence, including moral and psychological violence, using a firearm while committing a crime and possession of a firearm without permit. Other charges include stealing the victim's mobile phone and car key, and the wilful damage to her property. 

Bernice Cassar had filed several reports of domestic abuse against her husband Roderick Cassar
Bernice Cassar had filed several reports of domestic abuse against her husband Roderick Cassar

He was also charged with breaching a probation order and insulting a third party - believed to be a civilian who had tried to intervene on the morning of the murder.

Cassar murdered his wife on Tuesday at 8am while she was driving to work at the Corradino industrial estate in Paola. He shot her in the face and chest. Bernice Cassar died on the spot.

The couple, who have two young children, had been going through an acrimonious separation and Bernice Cassar had filed several domestic violence reports against her husband.

The day before being murdered, Bernice Cassar had filed another police report against her husband, claiming a breach of the protection order issued by the courts earlier in summer. It remains unclear why the police failed to act decisively on Monday's report and another one filed a week earlier.

14:48 The court sitting is now over. Thank you for following. Nicole Meilak
14:46 The accused is not requesting bail. Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are asking that the accused be kept in the prison’s forensic unit. The prosecution do not object to this request. Court says that the Corradino Correctional Facility will establish where best to keep the accused at this stage. The Court will send the acts to the court registrar so that this case can be assigned in accordance to law. Nicole Meilak
14:43 Several documents are being exhibited. Lawyer Franco Debono speaks to his client for a bit. Roderick Cassar now stands up to give his details: he’s 42 years old, born in Pieta, living in Qrendi. He’s pleading not guilty. Nicole Meilak
14:39 A roll-call is carried out. Lawyers Angele Vella, Anthony Vella, Darlene Grima is appearing on behalf of the Attorney General. Inspectors Shawn Pawley, Wayne Camilleri and Paul Camilleri are appearing for the Commissioner of Police. “On behalf of the Republic of Malta we’re bringing these charges against Roderick Cassar,” Angele Vella reads.

Lawyers Stefano Filletti, Marita Pace Dimech, Anne Marie Cutajar and Rodianne Sciberras appear as parte civile.
Nicole Meilak
14:35 Roderick Cassar has just walked in, flanked by two police officers. The family is sitting right behind him. He has a quick word with his lawyer before sitting back down in the middle of the dock. Nicole Meilak
14:34 The family of the victim – from siblings, parents, aunts and cousins - has entered the courtroom, which is now crowded with lawyers and journalists. The Magistrate warns that anyone who makes noises or causes a scene will get sent out of the courtroom. Nicole Meilak
14:28 Lawyers Franco Debono and Marion Camilleri are defence counsel for Roderick Cassar. Lawyers Stefano Filletti and Marita Pace Dimech are appearing for Bernice Cassar’s family. Nicole Meilak
14:27 We are live in the courtroom. Roderick Cassar is waiting in the corridors of the Law Courts for his arraignment to begin. Magistrate Astrid May Grima will be presiding over the case today; she is hearing other cases for now. Nicole Meilak
14:16 We are in court waiting for Roderick Cassar to be arraigned in front of Magistrate Astrid May Grima. Stay tuned for updates. Kurt Sansone
14:14 Bernice Cassar filed two more police reports in November - the last one being Monday morning - asking police to take action against her husband for breaching the protection order. Unfortunately for her, Roderick Cassar was not picked up for interrogation and on Tuesday at 8am went on to kill her. Kurt Sansone
14:12 Bernice Cassar is the third woman to be murdered this year. She had reported her husband for domestic violence and the case was scheduled for November next year. However, at the start of summer she filed court proceedings asking for an interim protection order, which the court accepted. Kurt Sansone
14:04 The victim, Bernice Cassar, a mother of two, was shot in the face and chest in the Corradino industrial estate on Tuesday morning. She was on her way to work and died on the spot after being confronted by her estranged husband. Kurt Sansone
14:02 This is the first time that the qualification of femicide will be used after it was adopted in the Criminal Code earlier this year. Kurt Sansone
14:01 We will shortly be live-blogging from court the arraignment of Roderick Cassar, who will be charged with his wife's murder. Kurt Sansone
13:59 Good afternoon. Kurt Sansone