Police officer explains chase in drugs operation

A magistrate yesterday heard how a police drugs operation evolved into a car chase and ended up with a man being charged with trying to kill five police officers.

Magistrate Tonio Micallef Trigona heard Police Inspector Nezren Grixti give an overview of the events that led to the arrest of Paul Debattista, 41, of Tarxien, who is pleading not guilty to the attempted murder of a police inspector and four constables and assaulting and disobeying them in Vittoriosa on January 17. Debattista is also pleading not guilty to driving recklessly, damaging a traffic sign and two cars and relapsing.

In his evidence Inspector Grixti, prosecuting, explained that, after being informed that Debattista was about to traffic in drugs in Vittoriosa, two police cars were deployed to the area indicated. After some time officers saw Debattista in a car with another person. When Debattista noticed the presence of the police he sped off and entered a narrow road. One of the police cars chased him into the road and instructed the other police car to block the road's exit.

Debattista, who was at the wheel, rammed the police car at the exit, then reversed into the car behind him and again rammed the one in front of him.

Having displaced the cars, Debattista drove onto the pavement and escaped towards Marsascala. The officers failed to apprehend him that day but, following investigations he was eventually arrested in Paola square.

The prosecuting officer explained that Debattista chose not to reply to questions put by the police. When asked why, he said he had previously been questioned over the Ta' Qali murder of Victor Magri and had nothing to do with it.

Magri, 41, known as Ic-Cinku, was shot dead in Ta' Qali on December 3, 2004.

Dr Joseph Giglio appeared for Debattista.