A 42-year-old Egyptian national, Ibrahim Hafes Ibrahim El Degwi, is standing trial charged with stealing from the residence of an elderly woman who was later found dead in a well close to her house in Xaghra. During his opening speech to the jurors however, Justice Joseph Galea Debono stressed that Mr El Degwi was not standing trial for the murder of the elderly woman.

The Egyptian man was investigated regarding the death of the woman, but has only been charged with stealing under Lm400 worth of items from her house and causing damage to the property. Police Superintendent Antonello Grech testified that Mr El Degwi had denied any involvement in the murder of Maria Attard, who was found dead in 2002. Although he had admitted that he, and others, had burgled the woman's house in June 2001.

The police superintendent explained that the accused had been taken to the Victoria police station for questioning on February the 10th, 2006, when the accused had admitted his involvement in burgling the woman's house, this was about seven months before she was found dead. Mr El Degwi had added that during the burglary they did not find much to steal so there was no point in returning to her residence for a second time.

After questioning in Gozo, the accused was taken to Malta, were he again admitted to taking part in the burglary but denied any involvement in the murder.