Murdered Dutch woman had her neck slashed, emotional police officers tell court

Police officers have described the gruesome scene in which they found Shannon Mak, a Dutch woman murdered in St. Venera this August.

A number of police officers testified on Thursday, telling the court that they had responded to an anonymous call about a woman lying immobile in a pool of blood in the street.

Visibly emotional, the officers described finding the woman face up, looking to the right in a pool of blood with a large slash wound to her throat.

The woman was found between two cars in St. Venera

When pressed by lawyer Stefano Filletti, they described the injuries as being a deep, long, horizontal slash wound to the neck, almost from ear to ear. Flesh was protruding outwards from the wound, they said.

Other signs of violence, marks and bruising around the eyes and forehead were noted. As soon as they saw this scene they took steps to preserve the crime scene and identify objects which may have been used in crime.

Jelle Rijpma, Mak’s 22-year-old former boyfriend is charged with her murder. He was emotionless throughout the sitting, looking down at his shoes for the most part. The victim’s father was also present for today’s hearing.

An anonymous phonecall at around 6.15am on 3 August informed the police that there was a person, possibly drunk, lying on the ground in Triq il-Mastrudaxxi, St. Venera.

RIU officers reacting to the callout, found a nightmarish scene: a woman wearing a bikini top, a black skirt and one sandal, was lying face up between a car and the wall, drenched in blood. Emergency doctors arriving on site certified that she was dead.

A kitchen knife, with a black handle and a bloodied blade was found on the terrace of a house in St Joseph High Road, St Venera, next to a mobile phone.

The compilation of evidence continues.

Inspector Robert Vella is prosecuting. Legal aid lawyer Leontine Calleja is defence counsel. Lawyer Stefano Filletti is appearing parte civile.