In memory
of Paulina
Dembska
Hundreds gathered along the
Sliema promenade on Tuesday
evening in memory of murder
victim Paulina Dembska, who was
killed at the same site a few days
earlier.
People lined flowers and lit can-
dles along the railing at Gnien
l-Independenza in Dembska's
memory, after her body was
found below the wall and along
the ramp leading down to the
garden.
Paulina Dembska, a 29-year-old
Polish student, was brutally mur-
dered at Sliema's Independence
Garden on Sunday, making her
the first murder victim in Malta
this year.
Reports said she had signs of
violence around her head and
on her chest, with the autop-
sy showing she was raped and
strangled.
Murder suspect Abner Aquilina
was arrested that same day, and
is now under observation for
a mental health assessment at
Mount Carmel hospital.
Dembska's family were present at
the vigil through a video call and
gave a word of thanks to the at-
tendees.
A message was read out from
Dembska's mother and women's
rights activists insisted that Pauli-
na's name will not be forgotten.
Activist Lara Dimitrijevic said
Dembska's murder was a stark
reminder that the country had
to pull up its socks and protect
women.
A woman read out some of Dem-
bska's personal writings: "We
come into this world without
riches, and we leave this world
without riches."
14
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 JANUARY 2022
EYEWITNESS
PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI (MALTATODAY)
