Four years after the brutal rape and murder of 29‑year‑old Polish student Paulina Dembska, her family is still waiting for justice as court proceedings continue to drag on.Dembska’s lifeless body was discovered in Sliema’s Independence Gardens on the morning of 2nd January in 2022, shocking Malta and prompting widespread calls for justice.Her sister Daria Dembska expressed disbelief that the accused has not yet been held accountable, writing that while nothing can bring Paulina back, a conviction could help protect others.“I can’t stop thinking about how the person responsible for your death has yet to be held accountable…and it’s been 4 years. I know nothing will bring your life back, but at least if the suspect is eventually convicted, it could give others a chance at safety! Malta wake up!!!” she wrote.The horrific killing led to changes in the criminal code to allow harsher punishment for killers when a crime is classified as femicide. The man charged, Abner Aquilina, has pleaded not guilty and once described himself as “the antichrist.” Court experts have previously said he was “insane” at the time of the offence.In June 2025, Aquilina returned to court after he allegedly stabbed another inmate in the eye with a pen.Dembska’s relatives have previously told Times of Malta they feel the accused has received more psychological support than their own family and that the slow pace of the legal process has made it harder for them to grieve properly.Paulina was the youngest of five siblings and first visited Malta in 2018. Her family said she fell in love with the island, and they noticed how much more outgoing she became while studying English here.“Four years from the horrific murder of Paulina Dembska as she fed stray cats on a cold January morning in Sliema. Today, remember the light she brought to the world as we renew our calls for a semblance of justice to be served for her and all of us,” wrote Roberta Metsola on social media.Rest in peace•