Speculation, curiosity ‘ripping apart’ the silence families need – priest at Gera funeral

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@victor laviera, yes I am sorry the response was not directed to you, if anything I agree with you. But I was writing in the heat of the moment, it could be also called one of those writings of passion. ;)

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@Fellus ta Gahan She can say whatever she wants about my disability or my English but the bitch dug my dead father out of his grave too. So why is she so upset now? And Antwa the idiot, have you all forgotten his posts of extreme sensitivity last week regarding Dr. Grech. What a sham!!

Chris Tanthi •

aborg2: You've got the wrong end of the stick. As I said in a previous post, my criticism is not directed particularly at Maltatoday, but at the Maltese media as a whole which is behaving abominably in this case. Whether MT's investigative journalism is top-notch or not is neither here not there in so far as this particular human situation is concerned.

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Please, everybody, be careful what you say because you are upsetting The Blogger. This person, who has never baulked at attacking her political opponents over their physical disabilities, who considers children as young as one or two as “fair game”, who has publicly stated that when a certain political figure dies she will open a bottle of champagne and piss on his grave, has had a sudden and acute attack of “sensitivity” and is worried sick at the effect that speculation will have on the families of the victims! A conversion greater than the one St Paul went through on the road to Damascus! And the sad thing is that the poor, lost souls on her blog, like Toni “Antwá l-Miskin” Vella and the rest swallow it all and bleat that it was what they had been thinking all along, little realising they are being taken for a ride and all The Blogger is interested in is safeguarding the advertising revenue her publication and agency glean from the Xuereb empire.

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I think that it's better that many people should show respect to what happened. But on the other hand, I can't understand how this case is like being investigated by all the media on this island, and I agree that PBS shouldn't have made an interview to one of the relatives of the victims. Is it because he's an esteemed entrepreneur? And we all know that before certain comments are made public, these would have been analyzed by a lawyer! So, we don't need to make a talk show out of this unfortunate episode. Everyone has got his own mind to think with, and no one is going to impress me, neither a priest nor an entrepreneur! And I think, if eveyone, especially the media limits the gossip, and let the police, along with the magistrate and the experts, investigate, maybe one day some type of outcome would come out. All this fuzz is non sense, and the best thing is that we leave the families alone during this difficult period of grief.

Ian George Walker •

@ A Borg2. You are badly mixed up - please check the names and see who is saying what.

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@Manuel Laviera, your talk is the most ridiculous nonsense. Malta Today is probably the only independent news source on the island, and frankly, compared with some other "publishings", whose journalists' only merit is that they can hold the pen in their hand, MT write some good investigative journalism. And they also do not have vested interests when publishing readers' comments, such as Times of Malta has, (with their Mickey Mouse journalism) and editing policy where they only publish comments which don't upset their advertisers. And Mr Zammit's family is one of their advertisers. God forbid, if they published anything that would put the families in a bad light. Such as the most likely motive for the murder, crime of passion and that the two men most likely have been "bum buddies".

Ian George Walker •

@ ManwuelMangani Who decides which circumstances are special and which are not? The notion that somebody - anybody - could have the power to decide when "special circumstances" warrant the restriction of free speech and freedom of expression strike terror into my heart. No right is unlimited, true, but there is a hierarchy of rights and I would put freedom of speech right at the top - only top be sacrificed as a very last resort.

Chris Tanthi •

@ Victor Laiviera. Firstly I only suggested the disabling of the facility to comment since MT is not filtering reader’s comments. All sort of rubbish is being allowed to appear without the slightest consideration being given to its effects. Secondly, the fact that I happen to disagree is not of the slightest importance. I disagree with many things – you should know because you and I have crossed swords on a number of occasions on this site – but I have never asked for the disabling of the comments facility before. These are special circumstances. Freedom of speech is not unlimited; like all rights it should end where other more essential rights are being infringed by its exercise.

Chris Tanthi •

@ Matthew Vella, The media cannot hide behind the public’s desire to know (or to be titillated, more likely) and justify the presentation of a sordid pastiche of fact, rumour, speculation and conjecture – and I am not referring only, or even particularly, to MT. The public’s wishes, however strong, cannot supersede the right of individuals who are bewildered and shell-shocked to grieve in what little peace circumstances allow them. Are we to set our minds at rest because (supposed) contacts within the police force have been asked to confirm that their information (note, about hypotheses and theorems which are often proved wrong, not facts) is correct at the time it is passed on? Do effects on hurting people come into the equation at all? Has anybody given a thought to what those twins will read when they grow up and seek information about the defining moment of their lives, as they are bound to? No, Matthew, it is not all that important for people like me to comment, if those remarks will interfere with the unimaginably difficult bereavement process of the young men’s families and the children’s well-being. The urge to comment can wait. Proper grieving should not be made to.

Chris Tanthi •

@ Matthew Vella, The media cannot hide behind the public’s desire to know (or to be titillated, more likely) and justify the presentation of a sordid pastiche of fact, rumour, speculation and conjecture – and I am not referring only, or even particularly, to MT. The public’s wishes, however strong, cannot supersede the right of individuals who are bewildered and shell-shocked to grieve in what little peace circumstances allow them. Are we to set our minds at rest because (supposed) contacts within the police force have been asked to confirm that their information (note, about hypotheses and theorems which are often proved wrong, not facts) is correct at the time it is passed on? Do effects on hurting people come into the equation at all? Has anybody given a thought to what those twins will read when they grow up and seek information about the defining moment of their lives, as they are bound to? No, Matthew, it is not all that important for people like me to comment, if those remarks will interfere with the unimaginably difficult bereavement process of the young men’s families and the children’s well-being. The urge to comment can wait. Proper grieving should not be made to.

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Is it possible that we do not have enough to do and talk about in this country? Why do we keep on hounding the memories of thee two victims and of the other victims relatives and friends. These people have feelings and are subject to all sort of trauma that any human in this situation ha to go trough. I am no relative and do not know any one of victims but I write from experience. So please let these living victims get to terms and keep on with their lives. Finally Mr Bondi shame on you to take such an opportunity and host a program on National TV about this tragedy.I use to follow some of your programs in the past but not now for sure and I suggest all not to follow such a program. Shame on you all to keep on hurting innocent victims

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The cheek. This paper is one of the organizations that have been at the forefront of speculation and insinuations. Then they go and print this. If anyone else feels that the press is overstepping the boundaries of common decency and respect go here and share this file. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phbJ_R4wFEk

Mark Fenech •

I do not think it was prudent for PBS to interview a relative of one of the parties. I think it was unfair to the other party involved, the PBS is not the police and neither the magistrate doing the enquiry. Hope the police will be let alone on doing the investigations of the facts and take necessary action they deem necessary, without any interferance from outsiders.

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@halfeucitizen and @algan I could not agree with you more. What kind of democracy is that, where people are not allowed to express their emotions or ask questions? Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. Freedom of expression should always be protected even if it is at the expense of some individuals. The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

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I am afraid silence is not a solution. The whole nation has been shocked and traumatized by this tragedy. It is natural that we all try to seek some sort of closure by trying to find some rational explanation for this frenzied murderous attack. Even if a motive is found one may still not understand why a quiet loner would suddenly turn into a chilling murderer. Perhaps the answer might be found in the traumatized mind and demons lurking deep in the memory of a Bosnian child who must have witnessed all sorts of untold brutalities and random killings. We have to thank God that a chilling massacre of the whole family has probably been averted thanks to Duncan sacrificing his life in defending his young family.

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@Thor, he did not do just "something out of ordinary", he KILLED another man very brutally! What kind of monster does that make YOU to defend a killer? Since you talk of God, why don't you also quote Bible as it says "Do not kill"? I had no idea that killing a person, could be somehow excused by "circumstances"? What exactly do you mean by that? The circumstances could not be any clearer, he went to another person's property before sunset, and the other had law behind him to protect himself! It is also called "self defence". Yes it is true the widow does not have to testify about her husband by law. But let's hope that the real truth about the relationship of these two men will come out, as it has already been reported that police stated that they knew each other "intimately". As their parents seemed NOT to know this, perhaps the men met in secret. After all the alleged killer knew exactly how to get to the apartment as how to find his way around it. He must have been there before. There would be no speculation, if the police would make an official statement to clarify, what actually happened.

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@a borg2......... "...according to the sole witness" exactly and this sole witness has all the protection of the law as what happened was at her residence.Yes both the dead men are victims, victims of circumstances that I believe we'll never get to know.So the priest was right silence at the moment is important and speculation can only increase the harm that already happened. Apparently you seem to know what happened as you are well set against the alleged agressor. When politicians die we laud them as demi gods foregtting that they might have taken people for a ride in their lives or were as corrupt as a corpse, but when a young man does something awful out of the ordinary we damn him to hell even thou we know nothing of what happened. God forgive you for judging others and may He judge in like manner.

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Am I believing my eyes? A Mayor to attend the killer's funeral, priest talk of him as a sweet family boy and certain newspapers refer to him as a" victim"? Having been sweet family boy yes UNTIL he decided to attack another man with allegedly two bread knives according to the sole witnes. A victim yes, of self defence. Question is, why the media is not writing the truth about this story? Is this going to be yet another one of those cases, where media is so scared of the influence of the involved families, that the truth will never come out. But what do you expect, this is a country where rich people pay the police to "lose evidence" and freedom of expression is only a myth.

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Shameful words but to be expected from a member of the Maltese catholic church. This is the same attitude that allowed children to be molested for many many years - while everyone looked the other way. Sur Vella - do the concepts of truth and justice feature at all in your conscience? The citizens of this country have a RIGHT and a DUTY to know what happened and to make sure that justice is done. We should be especially watchful to make sure that no one is being given special treatment - especially when individuals with political connections are involved. I have little faith that justice and truth will prevail - both families seem to want to bury the whole incident and the police are not to be trusted to act independent of their political masters.

Ian George Walker •

@ Manwel Mangani Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are more important than individual sensitivities, unfortunately. As Salman Rushdie wrote, What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." It is one thing - and perfectly legitimate - to appeal for caution and self restraint. It it altogether different to ask MaltaToday to remove the commenting facility simply because you disagree with what is being said.

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Why glorify an alleged murderer as "a sweet family boy" or as written in the Times "a shining witness of God's love towards us"?? Has Malta gone completely cockoo?

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved. This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation. If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication. Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street. The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions. Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

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@ Manuel Mangani

Every newspaper in the country is reporting every single detail of this crime. Including this call for silence. But a matter of public record cannot be ignored, no matter how hurtful this is for the families involved.

This mysterious tragedy is perhaps unprecedented, but crime reporting can be very difficult when a blackout exists from official investigators. The press then depends on its police informants. So far, in most coverage, the press has reported the main leads in the investigation.

If you notice, some of the more bold leads were first made in Maltastar and l-orizzont, then MaltaToday and the Times followed suit as they got double/triple confirmations. As an example: two days after l-orizzont floated the police lead on the wife possibly killing the aggressor, the Times today has run with that story. After all the fanciful theories bandied about, the media in general has been careful about how to report this case: in general, journalists are asking their sources to confirm if their information is as correct as much as possible at the time of going to publication.

Manuel it is important that you and other people comment on the media's reportage of the crime. I understand that some comments can get out of hand, even though they are the same comments we heard on the street.

The most read stories on most newspapers (and most bookmarked on Facebook) are court and crime stories: people want to read about crime because it is also about greed, violence, revenge - all powerful human emotions.

Sometimes it reflects important issues in society. Or maybe it happens to be a good story, with no wider implications. Either way, we must cover it properly. Even our audience expects it.

Chris Tanthi •

Ms. Dalli, It is not simply the public's speculation which is fuelling media reports. It is also, or perhaps mainly, media reports base don nothing but soeculation which are fuelling further public debate. This crassly insensitive attitude towards the memories of the dead individuals and their hurting families has reached truly shameful proportions. Will the media please desist? If you cannot moderate. cpmments why don't you disable the facility, at least until more details are available? Should decent poeple decide to take matters in their own hands and boycott those sections media which are indulging in this shameless gossiping?

Chris Tanthi •

Ms. Dalli, It is not simply the public's speculation which is fuelling media reports. It is also, or perhaps mainly, media reports base don nothing but soeculation which are fuelling further public debate. This crassly insensitive attitude towards the memories of the dead individuals and their hurting families has reached truly shameful proportions. Will the media please desist? If you cannot moderate. cpmments why don't you disable the facility, at least until more details are available? Should decent poeple decide to take matters in their own hands and boycott those sections media which are indulging in this shameless gossiping?

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CATLOVER OR BETTER GOSSIPLOVER YOU ARE ONE OF THE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WHO GET FIXATED WITH PEOPLE LIKE CLARE AND THE LATE DUNCAN WHO WOULD BE READY TO COMMIT A CRIME LIKE THIS YOU KNOW ALL THERE PERSONAL LIFE AND I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE SO CALLED FRIENDS WHO STAY WITH HERE SO THEY CAN THINK THEY LIVE THE GOOD LIFE !!! LISTEN TO ME FIND A JOB TRY TO GET RICH AND MAKE A FAMILY AND THEN SHUT YOUR BIG EMPTY HOLE GO AND FIND A MAN OR A "WOMAN" OR IF YOU CANNOT DO THAT FIND A HOBBY BUT AT LEAST YOU WILL FORGET ABOUT YOUR BIG FRUSTRATION YOU HAVE OF YOUR LIFE YOU WILL BE ALWAYS A BIG LOSER IN LIFE AND I PITY YOU ALOT

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CATLOVER OR BETTER GOSSIPLOVER YOU ARE ONE OF THE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WHO GET FIXATED WITH PEOPLE LIKE CLARE AND THE LATE DUNCAN WHO WOULD BE READY TO COMMIT A CRIME LIKE THIS YOU KNOW ALL THERE PERSONAL LIFE AND I THINK YOU ARE ONE OF THE SO CALLED FRIENDS WHO STAY WITH HERE SO THEY CAN THINK THEY LIVE THE GOOD LIFE !!! LISTEN TO ME FIND A JOB TRY TO GET RICH AND MAKE A FAMILY AND THEN SHUT YOUR BIG EMPTY HOLE GO AND FIND A MAN OR A "WOMAN" OR IF YOU CANNOT DO THAT FIND A HOBBY BUT AT LEAST YOU WILL FORGET ABOUT YOUR BIG FRUSTRATION YOU HAVE OF YOUR LIFE YOU WILL BE ALWAYS A BIG LOSER IN LIFE AND I PITY YOU ALOT

Speculation, curiosity ‘ripping apart’ the silence families need – priest at Gera funeral

‘We all need silence’ – priest tells funeral congregation – ‘so many questions surround the death of two young men at the prime of their life.’