Father Drugged Children Before Alleged White Rocks Attack
A disturbing case has unfolded in court this week, revealing how a 49-year-old father spiked his two young children's food with sleeping pills at a McDonald's restaurant before allegedly attempting to kill them at an abandoned holiday complex in Pembroke [1].
The man, who cannot be named under court order, is facing charges of attempted murder against his son, aged 12, and daughter, aged 10. He is pleading not guilty to the charges [1].
According to Police Inspector Kurt Colombo Zahra's testimony at the compilation of evidence hearing before Magistrate Claire Stafrace Zammit, the accused took his children bowling in Paceville on the evening of 7 March before heading to the Bay Street Complex McDonald's [1]. There, he admitted to officers that he placed sleeping pills into their food because he wanted them to fall asleep at his home rather than be returned to their mother [1].
The daughter later told her mother the food tasted bitter. When the children complained about the taste, the accused reportedly told them: "If you love me, eat all your food" [1].
Escape and Discovery
After the meal, the man drove his children to the White Rocks complex in Pembroke, a disused holiday site where the family had previously held barbecues [1]. What followed was a violent ordeal that left both children traumatised.
Police discovered the 12-year-old boy in an abandoned room, semi-conscious and covered in blood. Officers found a round mark on the floor consistent with the shape of a head, along with blood-stained rocks nearby. The boy sustained multiple blows to the head [1].
When questioned, the accused told police there had been an "altercation" and claimed the boy was injured when he fell while running [1]. However, the boy's account tells a different story. During the attack, he shouted to his sister: "Run, or he will kill you" [1].
The 10-year-old girl managed to escape after her father bit her. A passing motorist found her distraught on the Coast Road and drove her to the police station [1].
A Trail of Troubling Evidence
Court heard that the accused's actions that day were preceded by deeply concerning social media posts. Shortly before picking up his children, he posted on Facebook in Italian: "He who causes war within families should never find peace" [1].
The posts continued while the children were eating at McDonald's. He named his estranged wife's lover and wrote that he intended to take his son with him. The marriage had broken down following his wife's relationship with a personal trainer [1].
After the alleged attack, the accused texted his wife: "Take the girl, the boy is in heaven" [1].
The 49-year-old evaded a police manhunt for three days before being found near a kiosk, limping. Officers discovered he had hidden in an empty caravan, where they later found a notebook containing written apologies to his son. He told police he had tried and failed to take his own life [1].
Current Status
The boy remains in hospital but is no longer in a critical condition [1]. The compilation of evidence hearing is ongoing, with the court working through the prosecution's case before determining whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial [1].