LAST UPDATE | 12 Aug

AN IRISHMAN HAS been shot dead by police in Malta after allegedly murdering a woman yesterday.

Local media has identified the man as 50-year-old Irishman Edward Johnston.

He has been named as the main suspect in the killing of his former partner, Maltese woman Nicolette Ghirxi (48), who was stabbed to death in an apartment in the city of Birkirkara.

When the suspect was found by police, he reportedly pointed a gun at himself and at them. After three hours of negotiations, police shot and killed him.

Police said they later discovered the man was holding a replica pistol.

In a statement released today, police said the alarm was raised at around 11.50pm local time (10.50pm Irish time).

Police were asked to attend a hotel in the area of St Julian’s, “as a man entered this hotel with a firearm and started threatening employees”.

Three hours of negotiations

Police attended the scene and began searching for the man.

They said he was “spotted on the rocks behind the hotel and as approached by the police, he jumped into the sea and started pointing the weapon at his head”.

“After about three hours of negotiations, the man put the gun down from his head and immediately pointed it at the police.

“The police ordered him to bring down the weapon, however the man did not comply and the police were constrained to shoot him,” the statement notes.

The man was immediately given medical assistance on site and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Department of Foreign Affairs told The Journal it is aware of the case and providing consular assistance.

The Irish embassy in Malta also confirmed it is aware of the case. A spokesperson said the embassy is ready to provide consular assistance if contacted by the man’s family.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported that Maltese media said the man was a former Irish soldier, which was based on initial reports from the scene. However, the Defence Forces has said it has no record of him ever serving. The article was amended at 4.52pm on Monday 12 August to make this clear.