[WATCH] Man, 21, murdered in stabbing during Hamrun fight

21 year old murdered in Hamrun

Police have arrested the aggressor believed to be responsible for the death of a man, aged 21, who was stabbed to death during an argument outside his Hamrun residence. 

The victim, Brandon Pace, died as a result of stab wounds incurred in the fight on Giovanni Barbara Street in Hamrun. His mother was on the scene of the crime, calling him by his name in despair.

The victim's girlfriend was being treated for shock by the ambulance medical crew.

The alleged aggressor, Kurt Grech, known as 'in-Nemes', was stopped in Pietà, and a search in his car contained pieces of tiles which were also found on the scene of the crime. He also suffered from stab wounds.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera is duty magistrate leading the inquiry. On the scene of the crime were also an ambulance and emergency physician response unit, but another emergency ambulance service was called out to Pietà to assist the alleged aggressor, who was transferred to Mater Dei Hospital.

It is the second stabbing incident of the week, and the fifth murder in 2017.

Scene of the crime on Giovanni Barbara Street, Hamrun. Photo: Miriam Dalli

Scene of the crime on Giovanni Barbara Street, Hamrun. Photo: Miriam Dalli

Scene of the crime on Giovanni Barbara Street, Hamrun. Photo: Miriam Dalli

Scene of the crime on Giovanni Barbara Street, Hamrun. Photo: Miriam Dalli

Scene of the crime on Giovanni Barbara Street, Hamrun. Photo: Miriam Dalli

Pace was in the past charged with stabbing his cousin, Ivan Farrugia, back in August 2014.

The incident occurred on Sunday at around 5pm in Triq il-Miklem Malti, Marsascala, when Pace allegedly stabbed his cousin – who was going out with Pace’s former girlfriend – in his lungs. Pace allegedly took exception at this relationship and the two men had been involved in a longstanding argument for a while.

The victim suffered grievous injuries as the stab wound brushed his lungs. Pace pleaded not guilty to causing grievous injuries.

According to court records from November 2016, Pace was again charged with stealing cigarettes from a vending machine in a Hamrun bar on Patri Manwel Magri Street. He was also charged with stealing €1,550 in cash and damaging the vending machine, which belonged to the bar owner. Pace, a relapser, had been charged with violating bail conditions imposed upon him by a court in February 2016.

Pace can be seen accompanying his father, Silvio Pace, in court as recently as 26 March in this TVM.com.mt report.

Silvio Pace had been jailed for 20 years for his part in a Paola explosion which killed a mother and her baby son in 1992. Pace and Vincent Spiteri were instructed by John Polidano to set fire to Oxford Studio. The fire led to an explosion of photo chemicals, demolishing an apartment at the back of the studio, leading to the death of Yvette Bonnici, 24, and her son Sean, who was just 18 months old. The adjoining Paola Labour Party club was also demolished. Their life imprisonment was later reduced to 20 years on appeal.