An Irish man has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death.
The 50-year-old was shot early on Monday morning after a three-hour standoff with negotiators where he ‘held a gun to his head’ and ‘confessed to the crime‘, police have said.
A woman, named locally as Nicolette Ghirxi, 48, was found dead by police in an apartment in Birkirkara during the negotiations.
Officers forced entry into the home and the apparent murder weapon was also discovered nearby.
Police had been alerted to the suspect when he entered seaside hotel in St Julian’s with a gun and threatened employees at around 11.50pm on Sunday.
He was found on rocks behind the hotel and started pointing the weapon at his head.
The man was identified as a 50-year-old man from Ireland and a former partner of Ms Ghirxi.
An Irishman has been shot dead by police in Malta after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death. Photo from the scene
At the woman’s apartment in Birkirkara, police found the 48-year-old dead from stab wounds, with the possible murder weapon nearby, police said
The man told officers that he had killed his partner and after around three hours of negotiations, police said they shot the man after he allegedly pointed the weapon at them.
A spokesman for Maltese Police said: ‘The police ordered him to bring down the weapon, however, the man did not comply and the police were constrained to shoot him.
‘The man was immediately given medical assistance on site and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified dead some time later.’
Police later determined that the weapon he was holding was a replica firearm.
Malta’s police commissioner, Angelo Gafa, told a press conference the victim had filed harassment reports in April and May, after receiving insulting emails from him, news reports said.
Last week she contacted police to tell them she believed her ex-boyfriend was in Malta, Gafa said.
Then Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who is from Malta, said ‘Nicolette Ghirxi should be alive today’.
‘Instead, Malta must bury another daughter,’ she said on Facebook.
‘Our grief must turn into action. Our anger must fuel change. The epidemic of violence against women cannot go on.
‘Not one more. Be their voice.’