Murder victim’s family reaches out to NGO to cover funeral costs

The family of murder victim Lourdes Agius has reached out to the Women’s Rights Foundation and the general public to cover funeral costs.

The Agius family engaged the NGO Women’s Rights Foundation to represent her interest in criminal proceedings against her killer. “We are much obliged and promise to ensure that justice is served and her voice is not forgotten.”

“The family would like to give Lourdes a deserving farewell ceremony, but at this point it would be a financial burden that they can ill afford. We are therefore calling upon you to help with costs related to funeral and other needs that her family may encounter. We appeal to public at large to help us support Lourdes and her family in these horrible times,” the WRF said.

Michael Emmanuel, a 28-year-old Ivorian national, was charged in court Sunday with the wilful homicide of his partner on Saturday.

Lourdes Agius, 35, with whom Emmanuel had three children, was found dead in her Paola apartment by her mother yesterday. Emmanuel was also charged with Immigration Act violations, and with being in possession of a fake Greek ID card and driver’s licence.

Agius, who was a mother of six, having given birth to a baby just a few weeks ago, had significant bruise marks around her neck when her body was discovered. The accused was reportedly found holding their two-month-old baby when police arrived on the scene at the apartment.

The court, presided over by Magistrate Caroline Frendo Dimech, heard how Emmanuel and the victim had lived together for the past three years. The prosecution said that both the victim and her mother, who is 64, had been in the past months victims of physical and psychological abuse by Emmanuel, who has been remanded in custody.