Scene of crime officers testify in murder trial

A jury has seen a number of photographs related to the fatal stabbing of Krstic Dragoljub, as the trial of man accused of his murder continued this morning.

Bulgarian national Emil Atanasov is claiming to have acted in self-defence when he fatally stabbed Dragoljub, a Serb, in 2013.

The body of Krstic Dragoljub was found face up, in a narrow stairwell between the first and second floors at a block of apartments in St. Paul's Bay. An empty leather knife sheath was found in Atanasov's bedroom, the officers told the jury and 6 large empty cans of strong lager were found on the dining area table.

The murder weapon itself was found at the bottom of a narrow plastic drainage pipe, after its cover was noted to be missing. Fingerprints lifted from the handle were not clear enough to compile a profile that could be used to compare with the accused's, however.

Answering a question from defence lawyer Malcolm Mifsud, the officers said they had not been asked to examine the electricity mains switch by police at the scene.

Atanasov, a Bulgarian national, had been living in Malta since 2011 and had resided in the apartment where the stabbing took place. Construction worker Atanasov, who lives in Saint Paul’s Bay, is pleading not guilty to the wilful homicide of Dragoljub, inflicting grievous bodily harm on Zoran Jocic and carrying a knife during the commission of a crime.

Some photos taken during the autopsy of the victim were also exhibited this morning, intended to demonstrate the depth to which the blade had penetrated. The accused had also been photographed, his clothes spattered with blood with a facial wound near his right temple also visible in the pictures.

Architect Richard Aquilina presented a report of his site inspection of the block of flats where the fatal stabbing took place. Cross-examined by Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud, the witness said he had not been asked by the police to note the location of the electricity main switch. The judge pointed out that this location will be confirmed when the jury visits the scene, however.

Zoran Jocic's account of what happened, given during compilation was read out “Dragoljub and I had gone to play a game of pool...the Macedonian was there...Since there had been a power cut and we could not play music, we started singing Macedonian songs...” The jury had previously been told that the landlord had switched off the mains supply after repeatedly asking the men to stop making noise that night.

Of the accused, Jocic had said that he did not know why he had joined the men, as he had not been part of their group. The accused had “a kind of fight” with Dragoljub--, a verbal argument. The men were both arguing in their own languages and he was doubtful as to whether they understood what each other was saying.

“Dragoljub tried to hit me, He had hit me in the face, the other guy stepped in to protect me.” Jocic said he then saw blood flowing from a wound to Dragoljub's abdomen.

Jocic explained that he had gone to get help, as he saw the man was in great pain. The other two men had stayed behind.

Judge Antonio Mizzi is presiding the trial. Assistant Attorney General Philip Galea Farrugia and lawyer Elaine Mercieca are prosecuting. Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud is defence counsel to Atanasov.