Judge revokes murder suspect's bail

A man charged with the murder of his former partner, when he allegedly stabbed her some 49 times, yesterday had his bail revoked after the Criminal Court was told he tried to escape from the island.

David Norbert Schembri, who is detained in jail for trying to leave Malta illegally, lost the provisional liberty he had been granted in another case where he is pleading not guilty to the murder of 32-year-old Josette Scicluna, the mother of his daughter, in her San Gwann apartment on May 3, 2004.

Mr Schembri had first been granted bail in the murder case on November 2, 2005, but on December 23 his bail was revoked as a urine sample had tested positive to drugs.

Following an application filed in court, Mr Schembri was granted bail last February 7 after the Criminal Court ruled that the Attorney General (AG) had failed to issue the bill of indictment within the time prescribed by law.

He was granted bail on condition he resides at his Sliema house, which he could only leave between 8 and 9 a.m. to sign daily at the Sliema police station.

He could also leave the house to go to Mass on Sundays and once a week to keep regular contact with his psychiatrist. Mr Schembri was also bound by a Lm10,000 deposit that was paid by his mother.

Then, on June 26, he was arraigned and charged with trying to escape from Malta which meant he had breached his bail conditions.

But before his arraignment, his mother, Evangelista Schembri, filed an application asking the court to release her from the Lm10,000 bond she had deposited as part of her son's bail conditions because she suspected that he might try to escape.

In a ruling handed down on July 3, the Criminal Court upheld Mrs Schembri's request and allowed her to withdraw the Lm10,000. Once the bond had been withdrawn, Mr Schembri was to be re-arrested.

Fearing that Mr Schembri might pay the bond and be released on bail, on Monday the AG filed an application asking that his bail be revoked.

Mr Justice Joseph Galea Debono yesterday heard Police Inspector Chris Pullicino and constables Brian Micallef and Brian Wood explain that on June 24 Mr Schembri was apprehended in Bahar Ic-Caghaq in circumstances that suggested he was trying to escape.

Following a car chase, the police stopped a car driven by Johann Zammit. Mr Schembri was sitting in the passenger's seat.

In a search, the police found a bag containing hair as Mr Schembri had just shaved. He was also found in possession of a large quantity of euros and he later admitted that he was planning to escape from the island.

On evaluating the evidence and the submissions by both parties, the judge upheld the AG's request and revoked bail.

Assistant Attorney General Anthony Barbara prosecuted.

Lawyer Joseph Giglio appeared for Mr Schembri.