Murdered sailor had been kicked around "like a ball" - witness

Martin Zammit

May 3rd 2009, 16:17

Mr Oatman. Do I take it that you are from the UK? If yes are you ashamed of the British Empire which forced Britain upon millions of people wether they liked it or not for hundreds of years? Are you ashamed of the hooligan culture that pervades British football or the knife culture that is rife in the Uk? To say that an entire nation ought to be ashamed because of the actions of an individual is ridiculous!Yes we have our good&bad in Malta just like anybody else. What we do not have is a society where you get a broken glass stuck in your face if you so much as look at a person in a way that they percieve to be wrong, a woman can walk home safely on her own past 8PM, you don't get racially abused simply walking down the high street. As for the Maltese holding grudges Mr Williams, the British were a dominating power and the behaviour of many a drunk matelot offended many&it is hardly surprising that it didn't go down well with the Maltese. By then Britain had more than outstayed its welcome and drunken sailors were hardly flavour of the month.

B.Williams (Guest)

May 2nd 2009, 11:20

This case reminds me of my time in the Royal Navy in 1955/6. i can still remember during Xmas time, myself and the lads after a few drinks in various bars across Malta, ok some end up scrapping after a few jugs, mostly letting off steam,but unlike the Maltese we never ever used to hold grudges and the next day being the Xmas. festivites we were pals again,. & yes I was beaten up by some local lads many a time not seriously, most used to throw insults at us mateloes in uniform and in some case when some lads mostly in their 20's couldn't stand on their feet because of intoxication to put it mildly were treated like animlas in the street,then the Big Boys(MP)* arrive and chucks all in the r/blue van back to base.I guess this sort of thing happened to us not just in malta but in most other ports, so really as we say in England:Those were the days gone by, and are no more and the above story just brought back memories, some happy memories of Malta and others well not so happy, thats life i suppose,i was much younger then to-day & single.

J Oatmon

May 2nd 2009, 07:47

Some one must be guilty (obviously) and it seems several people were involved in this criminal murder.
It seems it was a cowardly, murderous bullying by a crowd, kicking someone on the ground who is unable to defend themselves.

In my opinion all Maltese should be ashamed and disgusted by this stupid violence especially as it happened in the 'season of goodwill' on Christmas eve.
Lets hope this cowardly murder does not go unpunished and all those involved in the murder pay for their crimes.