Almost three years after the murder of Bernice Cassar shocked Malta, her former husband, Roderick Cassar, is set to admit to the crime in court, and could be sentenced to 40 years in prison if a plea deal is approved by the judge as reported by Net News.
A plea agreement has been reached between the defence and the prosecution, but the final word now rests with Judge Neville Camilleri, who will decide whether to accept it. The case had been scheduled to go to trial before the end of this year.
Bernice, a 40-year-old mother of two, was killed on 22nd November 2022 in Corradino while on her way to work. Cassar became the first person in Malta to be charged with voluntary femicide, an aggravated form of homicide introduced in 2022.
Alongside the murder charge, Cassar is also facing a long list of other accusations: holding Bernice against her will, using moral and psychological violence, possession and use of a firearm without a licence, theft, harassment and breaching a probation order.
Until now, he had been pleading not guilty, but he is now prepared to change his plea as part of the deal with the Attorney General.
The defence initiated talks over a reduced sentence, and after discussions with the Attorney General’s Office, and after the victim’s family’s lawyers were informed – both sides reached an agreement. Now it’s up to the judge to accept or reject it.
Cassar had previously challenged the constitutionality of the femicide law and filed multiple bail requests, all of which were denied. He was arrested in Qrendi after a 17-hour standoff with police, who eventually forced entry into his home.
Before her death, Bernice had repeatedly reported her ex-husband to police and had an active protection order, which Cassar was accused of breaching. Just days before the murder, her lawyer appealed to police to take action, but no immediate steps were taken.
An inquiry later confirmed that the “state system” failed Bernice, pointing to serious shortcomings in how domestic violence cases were handled, including lack of resources, heavy workload on police officers and poor coordination between state entities. It recommended stronger domestic violence units, more investment and better communication between institutions.
Under Maltese law, voluntary homicide carries a possible life sentence, but a reduced sentence can be granted through plea bargaining if the court approves it.
If the judge accepts the deal, Cassar will receive 40 years in prison without the need for a jury trial. If not, the full trial will go ahead and he could face life behind bars.
The prosecution is being led by the Attorney General’s Office, assisted by three police inspectors. Cassar is represented by Arthur Azzopardi and Jacob Magri, while the victim’s family is represented by a separate legal team.
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Gabriel Falzon is the social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.
