Prisoner dies in hospital

A prisoner who had a six-year jail term ahead of him, who earlier this month was set free by the Civil Court because his case was not heard within a reasonable time, but was then jailed again when the judgment was overturned by the Constitutional Court, died in hospital on Sunday.

Earlier this month, John Bugeja, 38, was set free by the Civil Court which decided that his fundamental human right to a fair trial within a reasonable time had been breached.

Bugeja had been sentenced to six years in jail by the Magistrates' Court in April 1993 on charges of violent theft, sexual assault and unlawful detention. He appealed and the Court of Criminal Appeal confirmed the judgment in October 2002, 20 years after the commission of the crimes.

Bugeja then filed a constitutional application against the attorney general and the police commissioner.

Mr Justice Gino Camilleri noted in the Civil Court that it had taken the courts almost 20 years to decide Bugeja's case which meant he went to jail as the father of six children at the age of 38 for a crime he had committed when he was 18.

Following an appeal by the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner, the Constitutional Court overturned the Civil Court judgment but awarded him Lm3,000 moral damages.

Bugeja was admitted to hospital from prison on Wednesday after he complained of severe headaches. He died on Sunday.