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JOHN Cassar told police that he had killed both his parents during negotiations leading to his arrest, a court heard on Saturday. At the time Azzopardi was una- ware that his father had survived the attack. "You don't have to ask me any- thing about my mother and fa- ther. I killed them," Cassar alleg- edly told a police inspector during a video call as officers attempted to persuade him to surrender. The 47-year-old was arraigned on Saturday, charged with the murder of his mother, Mary Grace Cassar, and the attempted murder of his father, John Cassar, during an incident at the family home in Mqabba on Thursday, 15 October. He faces nine charges, including causing grievous injuries to his father, offences involving threats and violence, possession of her- oin, and breaches of a probation order and a restraining order. Father found with screwdriver embedded in chest Testifying about the events lead- ing to the arrest, a police inspector explained that officers were alert- ed to the incident at around 3pm on Thursday. Police had been informed that a man had been attacked by his son and had a screwdriver embedded in his chest. When officers arrived at the home, they discovered a woman lying lifeless on the floor, with a scarf around her neck and a stab wound. The woman, identified as the accused's mother, Mary Grace Cassar, was confirmed dead at the scene. Her husband, who had sustained serious injuries, was initially in danger of losing his life but has since been reported to be in a sta- ble condition. Accused claimed to have a gun and wanted to take some drugs The inspector told the court that, while responding to the in- cident, he was approached by a person who handed him a mobile phone connected to a video call with the accused. This marked the beginning of negotiations with Cassar, who was at a residence in Siġġiewi. During the conversation, Cassar told the inspector that he had some drugs left he wanted to burn before be- ing arrested. He also claimed to have a firearm and warned police not to enter the property. The inspector subsequently made his way to Siġġiewi, where negotiations continued over video call, with officers seeking to en- sure that Cassar could surrender safely. During these exchanges, Cas- sar allegedly revealed that he had been taking cocaine for four con- secutive days. It was also during this conver- sation that he allegedly told the inspector he had killed his mother and father. According to the in- spector, Cassar did not yet know that his father had survived the attack. He went on to speak about the anger he harboured towards his parents and also discussed issues involving his former wife. The res- idence was surrounded by police as negotiations continued. At 4.36pm, Cassar eventual- ly emerged voluntarily from the property and was placed under arrest. He was informed of his rights and given the relevant documen- tation, but initially insisted that he did not want a lawyer. Hospitalised before being ques- tioned The inspector explained that Cassar was taken to Mater Dei Hospital because of concerns over 2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2026 NEWS ROBERT Agius, one of the Tal-Maksar broth- ers, George Degiorgio and an Italian inmate are being interrogated after mobile phones were found in their prison cells. It was Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bed- ingfield, who flagged the incident on Satur- day morning without mentioning the names of the inmates. In a Facebook post, Bedingfield said he was informed that police are investigating a number of inmates after mobile phones were found in their prison cells. The minister said that police investigations had been going on for some days, culminat- ing in a search of the inmates' respective cells, which uncovered mobile phones. The police acted on a tip-off. Bedingfield said the police were coordinat- ing the work of different entities involved in the investigation. Sources close to the investigation told Malt- aToday that the mobile phones were found in the possession of Agius, Degiorgio, known as iċ-Ċiniż, and an Italian inmate. Agius is serving a lifetime prison sentence for supplying the bomb that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia. He formed part of the Mak- sar gang that included his brother Adrian Agius and Jamie Vella both serving life sen- tences. George Degiorgio, along with his brother Alfred Degiorgio, is serving 40 years in jail for carrying out the hitjob on Caruana Galizia. George Degiorgio is separately also serving lifetime imprisonment for involvement in the murder of lawyer Carmel Chricop. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party insist- ed that the public deserves answers on how "prisoners involved in some of the worst crimes in our country" managed to obtain mobile phones in prison. Opposition home affairs spokesperson Con- rad Borg Manche said action must be taken against anyone found responsible for allow- ing the phones to slip through. "Minister Glenn Bedingfield must provide clear answers and shoulder his political re- sponsibility. We expect explanations, deci- sions and action from those in charge," Man- che said. In a separate incident earlier this year, Adri- an Agius was found to have breached prison rules when he had internet access on a laptop that he was authorised to have. An internal inquiry found that Agius used the internet connection to download pornography. Robert Agius, George Degiorgio found with mobiles in prison cells MATTHEW FARRUGIA & KURT SANSONE mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Robert Agius (left) and George Degiorgio (right) are serving time in prison over their involvement in the murders of Carmel Chircop and Daphne Caruana Galizia (Photos: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Sources close to the investigation have told MaltaToday that the mobile phones were found in the possession of Robert Agius, known as Tal-Maksar, George Degiorgio, known as iċ-Ċiniż, and an Italian inmate John Azzopardi both parents, JAELLE BORG jborgmediatoday.com.mt John Azzopardi in police custody (Photo: Jaelle Borg/MaltaToday)