Inquiry concludes Nicholas Azzopardi was not beaten by police
The Magisterial inquiry into the death of Nicholas Azzopardi, 38, has concluded that he was not assaulted by anyone while he was in police custody between April 8 and 9, the government said in a statement today.
Mr Azzopardi, who died shortly after, had claimed he was beaten by the police and thrown into the ditch.
The inquiry was conducted by Magistrate Anthony Vella.
It concluded that Mr Azzopardi had escaped police custody and jumped off a three -storey-high wall into a ditch behind police headquarters. He suffered grievous injuries which caused his death on April 22.
The inquiry found that the injuries suffered by Mr Azzopardi were compatible with a fall.
Furthermore, slight injuries suffered by a police constable corraborated the claim that he had tried to stop Mr Azzopardi from jumping off the wall.
The Home Affairs Ministry said it was awaiting the findings of a separate inquiry into the case being headed by Judge Albert Manche'.
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DENNIS AGIUS
Aug 14th 2008, 19:14
reading comments on this articles makes wonder how many unknown and capable investigators we got on this island, who jokes on the inquiry, who doesn't trust the police force and so on. Can you please, you all join the Malta Police force, maybe then we will be living in HEAVEN.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Aug 13th 2008, 14:57
This tragedy has to be looked at from all angles--
The Police----its useless brushing aside violent forces in the Force, I mean look at the despicable attack of a Police against a French women in paceville and the immigrant in the same locality........................and dont give us the excuse of "provocation" because being a Policeman you have to control yourself and be aware of how to react to provocation...........so the use of excessive force is not something that should be underestimated!!
On the other hand it makes little sense for people to get carried away with emotions and populist remarks that cause more harm than good..True, on his dead bed Mr.Azzopardi said he was attacked....but does this make it true?? As hard as it may seem we cannot just believe every tom, Dick and Harry just because he/she is on his dead bed..............On PBS it was stated that the injuries were only on one side of his body "backing" the idea of attempted suicide!!
...........Justice is not served by populism.....if it was so we would incacerate or kill everyone who was even accused of Molestation and paedophilia, but justice takes its course and its time............. true!!..... Sometimes unsucessfully
Carina Dimech
Aug 13th 2008, 12:35
It's impressive how many Inspector Clouseaus we have on this island. You should all become consultants to the police force, we would solve crimes in no time and probably pre-empt them!
However whilst you are all frantically jumping to your divine conclusions it would be rather nice not to generalise on the police force (and no i am not part of the force) Many of them do the best they can with the little resources they are given and the non existent training they are offered. Lest you were not aware their training lasts only 3 months, a bit short to be able to deal with some of the most hardened and experienced criminals.
Kenneth Busuttil Griifin
Aug 13th 2008, 12:11
Curse me for waiting all this time and expect the unexpected. I find this hard to swallow, considering what one stumbles upon every day. Justice and law are so far apart !
Joseph Caruana
Aug 13th 2008, 11:42
@ J Buhagiar
No. The Doi press release does not say that. But the Magistrate would have surely established what Mr. Azzopardi was being investigated about (which is being rumoured on other posts)
So, if I were to be investigated for what Mr. Azzopardi was being investigated and had that on my conscience, I don't know what I would have done... maybe I would have jumped off.
what would you have done?
george busuttil
Aug 13th 2008, 07:25
Nicholas was being questioned because his estranged wife who had just lost custody of her daughter accused him of molesting the said girl. Instead of trying to find out why she came up with these accusations the police turned on Nicholas and the rest is history. It is very clear from most of the comments posted here that the inquiry result did not impress. It was, after all what everyone was expecting. Just whitewashing.
Adrian Cardona
Aug 13th 2008, 02:41
@Dario Vella
Malta worse than China and Zimbabwe? Do you actually KNOW what happens in those countries? Do you have any idea of the human rights situation there? Do we shoot people who go out to protest here? Do we imprison anyone who writes anything against the government? Do we outlaw opposition to a political party? Such a comment like yours really deserves no reply.
J. Buhagiar
Aug 12th 2008, 23:48
@ Joseph Caruana
Since you have read the DOI statement etc – Perhaps you can clarify what worries me.
I am convinced that no one pushed him over the wall and that he did this off his own accord. Therefore it follows that this escape is even more worrying.
What made him go as far as jumping on his own free will to most definitely escape going back to police castody ? Did the DOI address this issue and clarified why?
Alex Borg
Aug 12th 2008, 23:08
Well, what timing! If I wanted to release a report with conclusions at a time when people are distracted by vacation and when they pay less attention to the local news, that is exactly Santa Marija week. We've seen it all, and it is so predictable! Sorry, I don't trust the Police. And they have to do plenty more to restore their credibility. I've heard a few stories and I've experienced a couple of brief encounters which make me believe that the Police expect, as a minimum, total subservience by citiizens in spite of their uncivil manners. They are lucky that in Malta we lack the critical mass for civil society to protest and expose their gung ho approaches.
J.Grima
Aug 12th 2008, 22:23
Soon after Nicholas Azzopardi made the statement and was recorded on his "death bed" (at which time he was recuperating very well), the police no longer accepted visitors near his bed and from then on was guarded 24hrs a day by the police. Incidentally, some time later we heard that Nicholas died ... incidentaly when alone under police custody.
What a coincidence! Congratulations Police for transforming yourselves in victims once again.
Amanda Mallia
Aug 12th 2008, 22:20
Rene Borg - Whilst not wishing to comment about Mr Azzopardi, especially since I never knew him, I would just like to point out that a book simply cannot be judged by its cover.
People are capable of showing different faces under different circumstances. A trusthworthy colleague (again, in general) may also have a darker side to him/her, which is known only by others. You simply cannot vouch for anyone, especially in this day and age.
albert fiorentino
Aug 12th 2008, 21:38
@Dario Vella
So you think that my country is worse than Zimbabwe and China? Ironic that you can pass these comments here !!wow!!!! didnt know it was allowed.How about writing in China or Zimbabwe!!
Hope you know why Mr Azzopardi was being questioned but that is another story.
Joseph Caruana
Aug 12th 2008, 21:09
I'm sorry, but alleging that a Magistrate did not carry out his job diligently, as most are doing here is simply not on.
I've just read the Government's press release on the DOI website. The conclusions are far more detailed than those reported here... 10 court experts, 71 witnesses interviewed, picture, CCTV footage of Azzopardi in the yard before jumping.
Some people just won't accept the truth if it were written on their forehead. So wake up to the fact that we were all taken for a very well-orchestrated ride... sensationalism by certain sections of the press did the rest.
N. Grima
Aug 12th 2008, 20:46
Finally, justice at last. I sympathise the police officers and their families for the hassle they have been through.
Dario Vella
Aug 12th 2008, 20:02
... and by the way who said we're living in a democratic country, where are the human rights? we're worse than Zimbabwe and China! here if you're someone from the government or police you cannot be guilty, cos youre ta gewwa.
Dario Vella
Aug 12th 2008, 19:54
Ho Ho Ho and who are we supposed to beleive? I dont think that a man who is in his dying bed is telling lies does he? Sorry but I beleive the victim. We're getting accustomed to these kind of schenarios in Malta and believe me there's more to come ... soooon!
Tony Caruana
Aug 12th 2008, 19:27
Yeap another one.
Amazing and even more amazing !!
J.Galea
Aug 12th 2008, 19:24
@Rene Borg
Why a trustworthy person was in the custody of the police??
Iris Azzopardi
Aug 12th 2008, 19:24
I just love local enquiries! Only yesterday, another enquiry found that there was no funny business in the Harry Vassallo case...
S.Sammut
Aug 12th 2008, 18:24
Ha ha ha, pull the other leg please. And how on earth did he get the bruises on? I bet they were self inflicted or rather done by some aliens from outer space. And the fresh ones that appeared whilst he was in hospital? The culprits can escape from Maltese notion of justice but Divine Justice prevails over all sorts of inquiries.
Joe Buttigieg
Aug 12th 2008, 18:15
What happened to, ' A statement on a death bed is as good as an eye witness?'
Rene Borg
Aug 12th 2008, 17:40
I hope that justice will be done if need be. In the mean time I would like to express my deepest sympathy with the family of Nicholas. Our colleague was a trustworthy person and I think that he is a very good person and it aches when I remember how he has left us.
Karl Consiglio
Aug 12th 2008, 15:25
But what was he running away from? Why would he rather risk jump that crazy height than be in police custody?