Murder victim’s husband had admitted in court to harassing wife

The husband of St Paul’s Bay murder victim Silvana Muscat, had admitted in court of harassing his wife as recently as February, when a court ordered him not to approach his wife.

Hamid Nour Eddine G. Ibrahim, 35, is suspected of having fled to Italy on a Ryanair flight to Bergamo, after his 36-year-old wife of just one year, was found dead in bed in a St Paul’s Bay apartment on Triq l-iSponoz.

Muscat was found in her bed under the bedsheets, in casual wear, with five stab wounds to her body.

She had already filed three domestic violence reports against her husband in the past.

On 3 February, Ibrahim pled guilty to charges of harassment after he was accused of having damaged his wife’s property and threatened her back on 31 January.

In a brief sitting that lasted no more than ten minutes, Ibrahim pleaded guilty to charges of harassment, insulting and threatening behaviour, voluntary damage and misuse of telecommunications equipment. The accused, who is unemployed, opted for summary proceedings and pleaded guilty. Legal aid lawyer Simon Micallef Stafrace pointed out that the crimes took place in the context of contentious proceedings for marital separation. The accused had cooperated with the prosecution and had a clean police conduct.

He was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was warned by the Magistrate not to approach his wife under a €1,000 guarantee.

Muscat’s body was discovered on Thurday by her sister.

She was in the process of separating from her husband after they married on 8 March, 2014.

Scene of Crime Officers recovered a knife from the common area of the apartment building, which they believe is the murder weapon. 

Ibrahim’s car was also located at Malta International Airport. An international arrest warrant is expected to be issued against him.

On Thursday afternoon, duty Magistrate Carol Peralta led an on-site inquiry into the murder, but the cause of death is yet to be officially confirmed.