Mother recounts little boy's fatal fall

The mother of a three-year-old boy who fell to his death down an opening in the garages of their apartment block has described how her son "just disappeared" down the shaft.

Vanessa Agius told a court yesterday that she parked her car and went looking for the source of a water leak accompanied by her son. The leak had penetrated the ceiling of the split-level basement garages.

She explained that the underlying garages in the apartment block are split on two levels and her garage was on the lower level.

The two of them got in the lift and followed the trail of water to the upper level. On reaching the end of the building, her son suddenly disappeared and she heard a thud.

She said she later found out that the noise was her son's head hitting the floor. "My first thought was to jump down and rescue him but instead I ran down and I found him sprawled on the floor." She added that since she works with nurses she knew not to touch him and just screamed at the top of her lungs for help.

Mrs Agius testified in the case against the owner of the building, Francis Mamo, 53, of Naxxar, a director of Oman Construction Ltd, who stands charged with the involuntary homicide of the toddler on April 16.

Mr Mamo is the owner of the building situated in Dawret in-Niżla ta' San Pawl Street, Żebbuġ. He is also charged with ignoring warnings by the police about the dangerous state of the building and a flight of steps in the area.

Mrs Agius said that around three years ago a meeting was held between the garage owners and Mr Mamo since he had received an exorbitant electricity bill .

She said that Mr Mamo did not want the responsibility of the bills and proposed that they be taken over by the owners themselves. The meeting was inconclusive and on leaving Mr Mamo said they either paid the outstanding amount or the lights would be switched off.

The case continues. Police Inspector Tony Cachia prosecuted.

Lawyer Paul Lia appeared for Mr Mamo while lawyers Franco Debono and Charmaine Cherrett appeared as parte civile.