CCTV trail led officers to Isaac Asare after Marsa murder of Miriam Azzopardi
Police tracked murder suspect Isaac Asare from the Marsa crime scene to his home via CCTV. Red Nike sliders found at his residence matched footage from the night of the killing.
CCTV cameras guided police to Marsa murder suspect's front door
Police used a chain of CCTV footage to track murder suspect Isaac Asare from the field where Miriam Azzopardi was killed all the way to his home in Marsa, two officers told a court on Tuesday, according to Times of Malta.
Asare, 34, is accused of strangling Azzopardi, 47, to death in a field along Triq Is-Salib, Marsa, on September 23. She was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy subsequently found marks on her neck consistent with manual strangulation. Asare is pleading not guilty.
Testifying on Tuesday, police constable Andre Mifsud said camera footage showed the suspect entering the field with Azzopardi at 10.08 pm. He was then captured leaving alone at 11.17 pm — more than an hour later.
"We noticed that he did not take a straight path to his destination but used a lot of side roads," Mifsud told the court.
Officers identified the suspect on camera by a number of distinguishing features: a receding hairline, a bushy beard, and a pair of red Nike sliders with the brand's logo visible across the shoe. Mifsud said he eventually spotted the man on Triq Is-Sajjieda in Marsa, called for backup, and arrested him in the nearby Triq il-Gizwieti. A search of Asare at the time of arrest turned up three mobile phones and a set of keys.
Also testifying was Sergeant Gary Scerri, a homicide squad officer who was present during the arrest. Scerri said Asare initially claimed he lived at the Waterfront Hotel, but police had already established through the footage that his address was on Triq Is-Sajjieda. Officers used the keys found on him to enter and search the property, where they recovered a pair of red Nike sliders matching those seen on the CCTV recordings.
Scerri also noted that the washing machine was running when they entered. "I immediately stopped the cycle until forensics arrived," he said.
Azzopardi is one of three women killed in Malta so far this year.
The case is prosecuted by inspectors Kurt Zahra, Wayne Camilleri and Miriam Lia, alongside lawyer Kaylie Bonett of the Attorney General's Office. Asare is represented by lawyers Amadeus Cachia and Ishmael Psaila. Lawyers Franco Debono, Matthew Xuereb and Arthur Azzopardi are appearing as parte civile.
The hearing continues on November 23 at 12.45 pm.
Source: Times of Malta