Second inquiry into soldier's death ready 'soon'

The inquiry ordered by the Prime Minister into the death of Gunner Matthew Psaila should be concluded within weeks.

Judge Victor Caruana Colombo, who is heading the inquiry, said he was still sifting through the evidence and it was hard to give an exact timeframe but hoped to conclude before the end of May.

The board of inquiry includes Brigadier (Rtd) John Spiteri and Joe Sultana, former director general of the Department of Civil Aviation.

It remains to be decided whether the government will release the inquiry report.

The death of the 19-year-old gunner, who succumbed to injuries he sustained during a military exercise at Chadwick Lakes in February, triggered three investigations.

Apart from Judge Caruana Colombo's probe to examine all aspects of C (Special Duties) Company's operation, there was the army's internal military inquiry and an inquiry by Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera, which was concluded in early March.

The magisterial inquiry report was passed on to Attorney General Silvio Camilleri but when contacted yesterday he said it was "premature" to say whether he would be publishing the findings. "It is not the opportune moment and I have yet to decide whether I will be giving access to the inquiry," Dr Camilleri said.

In the meantime, until the conclusions of the inquiries are revealed, the family continue to be plagued by questions as to what could have happened during the military exercise that led to the death of their dear son.

The young man had been pulled out of the water unconscious after spending about 10 minutes submerged and 20 more without a pulse in the ambulance. Initial information that emerged from the magisterial inquiry had found that other soldiers who were training with Gunner Psaila had also found themselves in difficulty and required treatment.

The incident happened at about 10.30 a.m. on February 13 when a team of nine soldiers from C Company, the army's quick reaction force, were undergoing teamwork training, carrying logs and surmounting land and water obstacles.

The soldiers, with their faces painted, were in full gear, each carrying a backpack weighing about 20 kilogrammes and a rifle. The team had to wade against the current and pass through a bridge under a two-way road.

The young man had enlisted in the army on March 17, 2008 and in November he was in the passing-out parade, which meant he had qualified as a regular soldier with the force - his dream come true. He was deemed to have the right potential and talents to serve in the elite unit.