Contractors, foreman, charged over worker's death

Five construction company directors and a foreman were today accused in court of having, through negligence, caused the death of construction worker James Aquilina of Siggiewi who died in a fall in Qawra in February 2007.

Police Inspector Therese Sciberras told the court that the victim and some other workers were working on the roof of an eight-storey block of flats when he tripped and fell down a shaft, dying shortly afterwards on site.

The accused are Carmel Deguara, 61, Martin Deguara, 53, Brian Micallef 30, and Emanuel Micallef, 60, directors of Devlands Ltd and foreman Antoine Mallia, 36.

Silvio Felice, 53, director of Santa Cecilia Co. Ltd and Carmel Camilleri, director of Camland Ltd were also charged with failing to appoint a project design supervisor and a construction supervisor. They were also accused of failing to keep health and safety records.