Slain policeman honoured in Qormi

The mother of a slain policeman stood weeping in front of a monument dedicated to her son as it was being unveiled during a ceremony marking his cold-blooded murder nine years ago.

Police Constable Roger Debattista's mother Maria Assunta stood frozen about a metre away from the bronze bust with her head in her hands. She only returned to her seat beside her son's widow and children when she was gently prodded on by her husband Joseph.

The event took place opposite the former Bank of Valletta branch in Ta' Farsina, Qormi, where PC Debattista, 34, was shot at point-blank range while standing guard.

Noting the grief, Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici admitted this was a wound opened every time a commemoration was held. "But, forgive us, because we need to remember such a person," he said, in a touching speech.

"He (Roger) was not scared. He did not cower and he did not run away but stood firm," Dr Mifsud Bonnici said, speaking off the cuff.

PC Debattista was killed as he was locking the bank's door when he spotted three armed and hooded robbers rushing towards him, one of whom shot at the policeman, the bullet going straight through the door, hitting the officer. The robber took aim and shot again.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo said: "He died to defend, protect and save the lives of others. He died while serving the community. He died to honour the oath he took when he joined the police force.

"He was an exemplary policeman, an example of how a policeman should act while on duty, a policeman who fought crime to keep his country safe and sound," he said.

Following investigations spearheaded by Mr Rizzo, the robbers were eventually caught. They were Andy Calleja, 23, Mario Borg, 35, Ian Galdes, 22, and Mark Falzon, 26.

Admitting to the list of charges at the start of their trial, Mr Borg and Mr Galdes were jailed for seven years and Mr Falzon for five.

Mr Calleja, who was identified as the murderer, received a life sentence, which was later confirmed by the appeals court.

PC Debattista, then a dog handler, was working overtime to earn some extra cash when he was murdered. He was first a member of the Mobile Squad and served at the Corradino Correctional Facility before he was transferred to the Dog Section.

The ceremony was organised by the Qormi local council, Bank of Valletta and the Malta Police Force and follows the naming of a wing at the Criminal Investigation Department's offices and street after him.

Since the hold-up, the bank branch has been converted into a cash point.