Mellieħa murder victim bled to death after liver injury, court hears

A man who was murdered in a Mellieħa apartment in July, bled slowly to death after his liver was punctured, a court heard on Wednesday.

Forensic evidence about the nature of the victim’s injuries emerged in ongoing proceedings against Mayumi Santos Patacsil, a 44-year old Filipino who stands accused of fatally stabbing Marcelino Montalban Saraza, who was her partner.  

The victim was found lying in a pool of blood covered by a sheet on the floor, close to the kitchen area. He had been stabbed in the chest.

Forensic medical expert Mario Scerri testified that besides that fatal blow which had punctured the liver, the victim had another wound on the neck that might have given the impression of being self-inflicted. Yet it was caused after death, probably by a different weapon.

Two knives had been found at the crime scene. One was in the kitchen sink while the knife probably used to deal the fatal blow was found outside on the ground beneath the veranda.

Dental expert David Mifsud testified how he had examined the body of the victim at the hospital mortuary and confirmed the presence of a bite mark on his left arm.

That mark was done by the accused, whom he had also examined at...