Clothes worn by murder suspect were ‘clean', court told

Clothes worn by a murder suspect during a stabbing incident at Tigné and later found by the police when searching his room, were evidently “clean”, an officer from the homicide squad testified on Monday.

Various items of clothing were seized from the Sliema apartment that was rented by Hisham Ali Abuagilla, the 38-year-old Libyan who stands accused of attempted murder.

The incident dates back to August 6, 2021 when an argument broke out between the suspect and a 21-year-old Briton who, together with his friends, met up with Abuagilla in the early hours of the morning following a night out in Paceville.

One of the victim’s friends moved Abuagilla’s bag while looking for a misplaced phone when the group met in the area of Tigné Point.

But that action allegedly triggered an argument which escalated, resulting in a violent episode during which the Briton was stabbed in the chest, neck, back and face. 

While lying on a stretcher in hospital, the youth later showed police a Facebook photo of the accused, signalling that he was his aggressor. 

Days later, the suspect was tracked down after being spotted by an officer along the Qui Si Sana seafront. 

He was arrested and arraigned,...