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.