An Irish man has been shot dead by police in Malta after a woman was stabbed to death in her apartment.
The body of Nicolette Ghirxi (48) was discovered in Birkirkara in the early hours of Monday morning.
The suspect was a former soldier from Ireland called Edward Johnston (50), police have said.
During a press conference, Police Commissioner Angelo Gafa said officers were called after receiving reports that a man wielding a gun was saying he had just murdered someone.
The police then went to Nicolette’s place in Birkirkara, forced entry and found her dead with two knives nearby.
Johnston, an ex soldier, had fled to St Julian’s where he hid in an area behind the Hilton hotel.
Police said negotiations took around three hours before Johnston then went into the sea, while pointing the gun towards his head, and starting screaming to the officers.
According to Commissioner Gafa, he was shot dead by police after he brandished a weapon at them.
Commissioner Gafa also confirmed the man and woman had been in a relationship, which had broken down.
There were no previous reports of violence between the two but in April, the woman filed two harassment reports against him.
However she had reportedly refused a domestic violence assessment, telling police and social welfare officials that she did not believe she was at risk.
She filed another report of harassment in May, again linked to emails.
At the time, police established that Johnston was abroad at the time, describing the emails as being harassment but not of a threatening nature.
In July the victim informed police about slanderous posts about her and she suspected Johnston, who was abroad at the time.
On Thursday August 8 at 9pm she informed police by email that Johnston might be in Malta.
Forensic experts were at the scene on Monday morning and it is reported that there were no signs of a break-in at her residence.
Magisterial inquiries are under way and the police are holding their own inquiry into the use of firearm
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said they are is aware of the case.
