Youth lost consciousness after heroin shot - police officer

A young man injected with heroin turned blue in the face within 10 minutes and lost consciousness. Nothing would revive him, not a salt injection, not an ice-pack nor a cold shower, an assistant commissioner told a court yesterday.

Leonard Magro eventually died on his way to hospital after he was left outside the Paola health centre by his cousin and a friend, Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar said.

The police officer testified before Magistrate Miriam Hayman in the compilation of evidence against the friend, Claire Farrugia, 24, of Marsascala.

She is pleading not guilty to the involuntary homicide of Magro on December 29, 2002, the possession and trafficking of heroin on and before December 29, 2002, and the possession of cannabis resin on and before December 2, 2002.

The assistant commissioner yesterday explained how he was informed that an unidentified young man had been found lying unconscious outside the Paola health centre and had died of a suspected overdose on the way to hospital.

AC Cassar went to hospital with Superintendent Nicholas Ciappara and Inspector Norbert Ciappara and they found the young man in underwear and socks.

He was told at the hospital that the young man had been found unconscious with ice in his underwear and lying next to a plastic bag containing jeans, a sweater and a pair of shoes.

Meanwhile, Inspector Abraham Zammit found an HSBC debit card with the name "Leonard Magro" in the back pocket of the jeans and they eventually traced the name to an address.

The police went to the address where they spoke to Magro's parents who provided them with a photograph of their son and it was established that the young man at the hospital was in fact Magro.

His parents told the police they had last seen him at about midnight the previous day and his uncle told them his son Roderick might be able to help because he sometimes went out with his cousin Leonard.

Police questioned Roderick Magro who said he had not seen his cousin for some time.

He mentioned a certain Ian Bonnici who was his cousin's friend and said that all he knew was that Bonnici lived in Marsascala and worked at the Casinò di Venezia.

Bonnici was found and questioned. He told the police he had gone to the Liquid Club with Leonard Magro on Saturday evening and had dropped him off home at about 6 a.m. on Sunday.

But when AC Cassar told Bonnici that Leonard Magro had not gone home that evening, Bonnici told him he had dropped him off at Farrugia's flat in Marsascala and explained where it was.

Bonnici also said that while they were at the night club Leonard Magro had taken an ecstasy pill he had bought from Paceville.

The police then went to Farrugia's flat and her brother Duncan opened the door. They searched the flat, found an ice pack in the sink and made the link between the ice pack and the ice found in Leonard Magro's underwear.

The police also found Leonard Magro's mobile phone in Farrugia's handbag.

AC Cassar then went to speak to Farrugia who was in her bedroom and she burst into tears. At that point he cautioned her and she was taken to police headquarters where she released a statement.

Farrugia told the police she had known Leonard Magro for some months and he had knocked at her door at about 6 a.m. and slept at her flat.

"She said she woke up at 9 a.m. because she had to go to the detox centre for methadone and Magro went with her. They planned to buy heroin after going to the detox centre.

"While Farrugia was at the detox centre, Leonard went to withdraw Lm25 from the ATM outside the hospital and gave Farrugia Lm10 for the heroin they were about to buy."

Farrugia drove towards Marsascala where they met a person and bought the heroin.

"They then stopped at the Paola health centre for syringes and returned to the flat at about 11 a.m. Farrugia prepared the heroin."

She said that Leonard wanted her to give him 30ml but she thought it was too much and prepared 20ml. Then she injected herself and injected him, he said.

Ten minutes later Leonard Magro turned blue and she tried to help him by wetting his face and injecting him with salt.

She also put an ice pack in his underwear but he only reacted slightly.

"She said that at about 8 p.m. she phoned his cousin Roderick who arrived at her flat shortly afterwards," he said.

"Together they gave Leonard a cold shower and he reacted to the water's temperature.

"Then Roderick went to get his car and they placed Leonard in the back seat.

"Farrugia sat next to him to hold him up.

"Roderick drove to the Paola health centre and they left the victim lying on the doorstep.

"Farrugia said she had intended to inform someone at the health centre about Leonard but when she saw two soldiers dressed in camouflage she got into Roderick's car and they drove off," the assistant commissioner explained.

Roderick Magro took the witness stand and said that on December 29, 2002, he phoned his cousin Leonard Magro at about 11 a.m. and his cousin told him that he was at Farrugia's Marsascala flat.

He explained he had called him because they usually went out together and he wanted to make plans to go out.

Roderick Magro phoned Leonard Magro again at about 1 p.m. but his mobile was switched off.

He called again about two hours later but it was still off so at 4 p.m. he went to Farrugia's flat, but when he knocked at the door no one opened.

He remained in Marsascala and kept trying to call his cousin.

At 7 p.m. he called Farrugia's brother Duncan but since he was not helpful he phoned Farrugia and she told him she would drop off his cousin at home later on.

But at about 9 p.m. Farrugia called him and asked him to go to her flat.

"When I arrived there Leonard was lying on the floor. Claire told me she had injected him with drugs. I panicked.

"My cousin was like a brother to me and there he was, purple in colour and lying on the floor," he said. "I knew I had walked into a pickle and I was in shock."

Roderick Magro said he then dragged his cousin into the bathroom and wet his face and neck. He reacted slightly but not for long, so he suggested taking him to the health centre.

Farrugia tried injecting him with salt but nothing happened so they took him to the Paola health centre.

When asked if he intended to leave Magro on the doorstep, Roderick Magro replied: "I did not want to be involved. I wanted to leave him on the doorstep of the health centre but I didn't think he would die".

The case continues.

Police Inspectors Norbert Ciappara, Neil Harrison and Abraham Zammit are prosecuting.

Dr Toni Abela is appearing for Farrugia while Dr Jason Azzopardi is appearing in parte civile for the Magro family.