The jury reached its verdict after six hours of deliberation; however it abstained from giving its verdict on the accusation or murder. The jurors took into consideration that Ivan Cauchi said he was in company of two other persons when the woman was held against her will and robbed of Lm1,000 worth of possessions. Mr Cauchi refused to name the accomplices in the case.  

57-year-old Elizabeth Cauchi, also known as Liz Cauchi, was found dead on the 25th February. She had last been seen around 2245CET on the 24th February. She was last in the company of her brother who took her home after a visit to a friend’s house. The following day drawers and cupboards in the woman’s home were found overturned and the woman’s body was found with her head buried under a pillow on a sofa. Elizabeth Cauchi’s body was discovered by neighbours how set out to look for her after becoming worried by her absence throughout the earlier hours of the day.   

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono presided over the court. Mr Cauchi’s mental problems were taken into consideration on handing down the sentence since their onset came about subsequent to his aunt’s death.  

The time Mr Cauchi spent under preventative arrest will be deducted from the sentence.