Ariadne Massa
Police cleared in HQ death case
Nicholas Azzopardi was walking along this passageway at the Police Headquarters in Floriana, when he allegedly tried to jump over the four-foot wall. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi.
A magisterial inquiry has concluded that the police did not commit any violence on Nicholas Azzopardi, although his family is still plagued by doubts and scepticism.
Before he died on April 22, Mr Azzopardi had alleged that he was brutally beaten and thrown off the bastions while in custody, casting a shadow over the force's reputation.
The inquiry, led by Magistrate Anthony Vella, absolves the force of any wrongdoing and concludes that Mr Azzopardi did not suffer "aggression, beatings, or violence" at the hands of the police, according to a press release issued by the Justice Ministry yesterday.
Police Commissioner John Rizzo said when contacted that the inquiry proved the force's innocence: "We had to put up with mud-slinging and suffer in silence. I'm very satisfied that the truth has emerged."
The media does not have access to the full report and it is the Attorney General who can release a copy of the procès-verbal at his discretion. From the initial conclusions, the inquiry corroborates the story carried by The Times, which reported that a policeman had tried to stop Mr Azzopardi from jumping.
Sources told The Times that the magistrate made extensive use of the CCTV evidence in the police yard, which showed Mr Azzopardi "looking tranquil" and "walking normally" with a police officer on April 9, and showing no signs of injuries.
In April, The Times had reported that "the camera shows Nicholas peering over the wall and walking further up along this wall". However, police sources had said that the camera footage stops short of showing Mr Azzopardi jumping onto the wall and the policeman trying to prevent him from jumping off.
The inquiry established that Mr Azzopardi landed in the yard of Lorenzo Manchè School and that his injuries, which were all on one side of his body, were compatible with a fall.
It confirms that the slight injuries of PC 1359, who was with Mr Azzopardi at the time, corroborate the claim that there was an attempt to stop him from jumping.
This is one point the Azzopardi family is contesting. Contacted yesterday, Mr Azzopardi's brother Reno said he wanted to see "some hardcore evidence" that proves his brother tried to jump over the four-foot wall, falling a height of three storeys.
"The footage shows Nicholas in a tracksuit and sports shoes walking casually and relaxed - he does not look like a person who is about to commit suicide," Reno said, questioning why his brother would jump.
He is also questioning whether the date on the camera footage was tampered with and if the images are actually showing Mr Azzopardi entering the depot the previous day, on April 8, and not in the moments before the fall on April 9.
Four months ago, the Azzopardi family recounted Nicholas's story, saying that on April 8 he had been called in for questioning at the police headquarters in Floriana on family issues.
Mr Azzopardi had told his family that on the same day he was taunted and beaten in the lock-up by two policemen, but also admitted that he retaliated against one of the interrogators by crushing him against the lock-up's metal door. In turn, an officer, possibly trained in martial arts, flung a side kick, breaking four ribs and puncturing his lung.
However, sources said the inquiry confirmed that Mr Azzopardi had spent most of his time at Mater Dei Hospital between the night of April 8 and April 9 and there had been no sign of beatings on him.
Yesterday, Reno was wondering whether his brother had actually been beaten on April 9 and not as originally thought.
"True, if Nicholas was beaten on April 8, the hospital would have realised. He probably got a beating the next day, because when we saw him at hospital, his bruises looked like they were some 12 hours old," he said.
"As a family we still have no closure. Nicky was in police custody and they should have ensured his safety... so even if he did try to jump, as is being said, the police had to protect Nicholas, so it's negligence on their end," Reno added.
The inquiry included the input of 10 court experts, the testimony of 71 witnesses - from police, family and friends - and four medical reports.
The Ministry is now awaiting the conclusions of a second inquiry being conducted by Judge Albert Manché.
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13 Comments
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victor vella
Aug 13th 2008, 22:10
First we ask for an inquiry then we don't believe the result, o mighty Lord help us.
Chris Sciberras
Aug 13th 2008, 20:10
Why throw mud at Nicholas' family and expect apologies towards the cops when the investigation is not over yet. Lets just help for the truth to be acheived and expect nothing in return.
Like other cases, policeman defend their collegues while the dead is always guilty. Is this the law that protects us?
Joseph Caruana
Aug 13th 2008, 17:29
@ Paul Bonnici
Excuse me, but the investigation was carried out by the foremost independent institution in our country: the law courts - the very embodyment of the justice system that's there to protect us.
The Magistrate never said that there was lack of evidence. To the contrary, he said that ALL the evidence provided by 10 court experts, 71 witnesses, CCTV footage and still shots supports the version provided by the police as reported in the Times.
Your doubt in the genuinity and competence of a such a crucial institution in our democracy as the Courts probably reflects your despair that the truth that is prevailing does not tally with the percieved realities that you were led to swallow.
matt azzopardi
Aug 13th 2008, 16:46
to Paul Bonnici
GROW UP! your comment show your hatred towards the police that will surely not put them off their dedication towards getting the culprits to justice,
again,
grow up!
Omar Zammit
Aug 13th 2008, 16:32
I think now it is time for the people who damaged the reputation of the force and this guy family to apologise to police.
mario borg
Aug 13th 2008, 15:46
i don't know how many enquiries took place in malta in the last few years, however, it seems to me that no one is ever found guilty of any wrong-doing...malta must either be the most corrupt-free where only the honest live or else......
Paul Bonnici
Aug 13th 2008, 15:40
I suspect if proper police investigation procedures were followed immediately after the incident, the verdict would have been otherwise. The lack of evidence does not exonerate the police in this case. This serious case should have been immediately investigated by an independent police force such as Scotland Yard which would leave no stone unturned. A question mark will always stay with this case. The fact that no forensic evidence and witness statements were taken immediately after the incident, will always cause doubt about the final verdict of the sad case. I hope it does not end there. The public deserves better than this.
DVella
Aug 13th 2008, 14:37
@Pierre Agius:
Honest investigative journalism does not produce interesting stories which are gobbled up by the lecherous public and their morbid lust for negative controversy. Some newspapers are not really interested in news, they just want to increase their sales and their main instrument for achieving this is exeggerated sensationalism and creative speculation . . . the problem is nobody ever seems to take any responsibility for the damage caused by the fall-out of their indiscriminate mud spattering.
Trevor Mallia
Aug 13th 2008, 12:06
At last the truth did come up as usual. Now only one question remains... who is going to pay for the damages that were caused to the police force? Who is going to compensate the police officers involved for all the worry and presure they were forced to pass through? As usual... no one. The same as no one compensated 5 police officers for being wrongly acused of beating up 2 arabs who were caught red handed raping a yong girl after beating up her boy freind. They too were aquited, but no one paid them for their sufferings. Let us all thank Gog that in this country we have a force of dedicated people who do their best constantly to kkep us safe. It is true that it they might occasionally suffer some mishaps, but at the end you don't find many countries left were a woman can walk alone outside at night without being mugged or raped.
To Mr. Eric Gahn
I really do not understand what you mean by this comment. Are you comparing the malta police to the KGB? I think if this is the case, the Commisioner should look into these comments very seriously.
Joseph Caruana
Aug 13th 2008, 10:59
I think that once the media obtain the full proces verbal from the AG and we'll know the real reason why Mr. Azzopardi was being investigated, we will all be in a position to make up our minds as to whether he had reason enough to jump off and try to commit suicide or not.
What's sure is with what has emerged so far, the family's thesis supported by Malta Today is surely leaking water from all parts. They had even said that he had been thrown off unconscious, when now we know that he was conscious even after the fall because he had spoken to his rescuers.
Eric Gahn
Aug 13th 2008, 10:03
This was always the expected outcome of the report. This is the same report that would exonerate Beria and his KGB from using forceful tacticts. But one thing is clear - more CCTV's are required in the Police HQ, expecially in the interrogation rooms which should have two or more cameras just in case one fails to work. This will leave no rrom for suspect activity by bully offiecers.
Raymond Sammut
Aug 13th 2008, 09:59
Why not withhold the results from the first inquiry until the second inquiry had been completed?
Pierre Agius
Aug 13th 2008, 09:57
Apologies to the Police Force from Malta Today are both appropriate and due! The reports of Malta Today turned out to be speculative and unfounded. Truly shameful for much damage has been done to the reputation of Police Force. So much for honest investigative journalism!