Two brothers deny committing Birkirkara murder

Two persons, both Libyan nationals, have been accused of murder pleaded not guilty today in court.

The two brothers were accused of stabbing a man after an argument in Birkirkara on the 26 November.

The accused are Siraj S.B. Shalgum, 36 and Husain Saleh Belgasem Shalgum, 31, who was injured in a fight with the victim, and in fact appeared in court with crutches.

The murdered man is Fouzi Farj Etwaish, 40, who was stabbed in the residence of the accused in Triq il-Bwieraq, Birkirkara. Although the accused initially reported to police that the man had fallen a flight of stairs, an autopsy showed that the man was stabbed.

Inspector James Grech said that the men were questioned but later released on police bail due to lack of evidence. However, further evidence gathered, including CCTV footage and forensic evidence led to their arrest yesterday, and the brothers have not requested bail.