Boys admit to involuntarily causing friend's death in fire

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 26th 2010, 20:03

@gcForte

Re: “reasoning ... reality…etc”.

Usually the parents are most to blame despite the fact that legislation and the modern educational system in the Maltese Islands hampers rather than helps responsible social development these days - despite all the efforts of certain really dedicated and truly professional teachers that – thank God – still exist in our school. However the latter's efforts are frequently squashed by attitudes of certain other teachers, most LSAs, some conceited and/or irresponsible and/or arrogant parents, certain unsupportive head teachers, certain College Principles more concerned with maintaining the status quo than with ensuring that they give their best for the common good and pointing out what needs to be changed, certain Education consultants/Managers hell bent on imposing their will/ that of their seniors no matter how harmful this is etc. …...............
I am a firm believer that children should be introduced to basic First Aid and Health and Safety concepts at kindergarten and such subjects should continue with maturity appropriate content – not mere chronological age appropriate content – up till age 16, with refresher courses at, say, work places and local council premises for adults.
(to be continued)

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 26th 2010, 20:01

@gcForte

Re: “reasoning far beyond reality…etc”. (post continued)

Kids should be taught about fire prevention and about how to “tackle” different types of fire - even if solely by moving away and calling/phoning for help. Children who seem unable to grasp basic safety concepts should be identified and arrangements made for proper – perhaps even constant supervision. Had such measures been practiced in our country this tragedy would have been most unlikely to happen. The least we can do is learn from it and not to try to excuse and forget it.

The worse thing one can do for a reasonable healthy child is to cage him/her. Rather we should strive to help them to acquire responsible independence as soon as possible according to their own natural abilities. Personally I think it is wrong to grant a driving license or marriage license at age 18. I believe 25 is a more appropriate age despite the fact that a minority of youngsters can actually tackle these responsibilities at 16. But I am down to earth enough to realize that we cannot have all laws tailor made to each individual’s own abilities/gifts/problems/disabilities.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 25th 2010, 23:15

@Rowena Scicluna and @ adian Wirth

You trivialize an incident which resulted in the death of a teenager by phrases such as “No use going overboard” “a childhood prank amongst friends gone wrong,” “misadventure” etc. I'm beginning to think that you two need to see a clinical psychologist even more than the two surviving teenagers may need counseling!
And what has Christianity got to do with my comments? I certainly don't know the bible inside out but I do not recall ever coming across any text in any holy book that even suggests that Christ taught or ever implied that one ought to excuse or trivialize serious carelessness by children.

“But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea.” I interpret this to mean – among other things – that one should not scandalize children by trivializing serious carelessness. But then again this is only my personal belief (and no papal dogma) just like the following:

Vera sar kollox xejn mhu xejn f’dan il-pajjiz!

Rowena Scicluna

Sep 25th 2010, 20:29

That is exactly my point! No use going overboard & deciding these kids need counselling etc etc! By that reasoning, I should have needed a lot of counselling, due to the silly & dangerous things I did when I was a child. I do think I turned out alright, however (I know, I'm biased!)

adian Wirth

Sep 25th 2010, 18:25

Reading through a few of the numerous comments one is horrified and disgusted by the general tone of correspondents. Catholic this country may be, christian most certainly apparantly not. What remains astounding in this so called advanced society of ours is why this case came to court at all? Surely, even if not considered minors at their then age, none of these children was of a maturity to merit the criminal court. A cleaner, quicker, less costly, more considerate and familial way would be a brief confidential hearing in a juvenile court to establish whether or not there was an intent to do harm and that this was a childhood prank amongst friends gone wrong. Should that hearing show otherwise then consideration of passing the case to a higher court might, given local current legislation have been necessary, but not necessarily even then appropriate. Why doesn't the Chief Justice permit where there appears to be a prima facie case of misadventure, common sense to apply in such cases and a pragmatic appraisal and resolution arrived at in a children's court? Perhaps the concept of 'misadventure' does not feature in local law. If not then this case demonstrates it should.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 25th 2010, 14:22

@ct busuttil

In certain situations ignorance and immaturity can be infinitely more dangerous than pure malice and evil. For example, a purely evil pre-meditated murder is likely to target only the intended victim but an act of carelessness can result in the death and/or maiming of hundreds of totally unintended victims even if the culprit(s) meant absolutely no harm or even meant well in some cases.

The conditional discharge that – according to you - is supposed to appear on their police record for some time will not by itself make these teenagers more careful and responsible. However actions like counseling, care orders, well designed programmes, health and safety courses and community service under professional guidance just might go some way in developing adequate caution. Are such actions too much to expect from a supposedly modern, civil and developed (or even developing) nation?

ct busuttil

Sep 25th 2010, 11:58

As always, EMOTION drives us to wrong conclusions. Please stick to the facts: the COURT ESTABLISHED, which means that after investigating the case, it BELIEVES that there was no MALICE on the part of the victim's BROTHER and FRIEND. They were PLAYING TOGETHER, not selling or sniffing drugs, not shooting at birds and no hit-and-run took place!!!!!!!!! A conditional discharge will appear on their police record to remind them that they are responsible for their actions. As we all are, in thought and in deed.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 20:46

@R Scicluna

If only what I wrote about IS gloom and doom and not pure realism!

@Rowena Scicluna
Yes I was a kid myself and I expect 13 year olds to know certain stuff and if they do not then they should not be left unsupervised. I also expect parents to teach their offspring about health and safety all the time and not console themselves and abdicate from their responsibilities by using lame excuses such as “accidents do happen” and “kids will be kids”. Of course accidents do happen and of course kids will be kids. But the role of parents and adults is to nurture and educate youngsters practically all the time according to a child’s needs, capabilities or disabilities. And it DOES take a whole village to raise a child - so conceited modern Maltese parents should welcome education and correction of their youngsters from strangers as used to be the norm till around 35 years ago and not persist in the current snobbish and nauseating attitude that nobody has the right to criticize or correct “their” perfect and angelic, God’s-gift-to-mankind offspring.

R Scicluna

Sep 24th 2010, 19:50

@Marianna Galea Xuereb: My goodness, don't you think you're being too fatalistic?! All this doom & gloom that you are painting! Come on...

Pule' Carmel

Sep 24th 2010, 17:51

I must admit that I too played with fire when I was young. Not exactly fire, but stuff that burnt and which I thought would propel a rocket. I must admit I was very very lucky not to suffer the consequences of my activities. I must state however, that coming from a boating family, I NEVER played games or teased others in deep water and I can claim that I never gave anybody a MAJNATA taht l -ilma even though other gave me plenty of duckings under water.

Rowena Scicluna

Sep 24th 2010, 14:30

@Marianna Galea Xuereb, and whoever else is of the same opinion: Weren't you a child yourself? Did you not do silly, stupid or dangerous stuff? I know I did!! Thinking of what I got up to at that age (pre-teens), I shudder, as some were deadly dangerous. I shudder even more when I think that my 5-year old son MIGHT get up to the same mischief when playing with friends.
These kids were just fooling about, they knew it would catch fire, indeed, they intended it to, but due to their young age, they did not know it would explode. A very unfortunate accident through lack of knowledge, but you cannot expect 13-yr olds to know certain stuff.
Give them a break. They will always carry this trauma within them.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 14:28

Those of you who bring up sweet and permissive but totally perverse empathy arguments in cases such as this should bear in mind that the aim of legislation ought to be the long term health and safety of society and not to pander to individual selfish desires.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 14:26

@h.azzopardi, Robert Callus, gcForte etc

“.. lost his brother enough for him to have to live with all his life..." This is a most irresponsible assumption!

For all I know this child might “come to terms” with this incident by deciding to excuse himself completely of all blame in everything past, present and future and/or even decide that this was for the best because he ended up with more of his parents’ attention, material goods etc. On the other hand he may end up feeling so guilty as to become suicidal, hating himself or resort to substance abuse or some other harmful habits. Whatever the boy’s present feelings, the law should be empowered to at least impose serious monitoring (of child as well as family background), counseling and/or some sort of community service. The fact that his parents lost a presumably beloved child should certainly not be used as an excuse to avoid separating the surviving child from the parents if it is deemed beneficial for the long term good of the child and society in general.

Joe Fenech

Sep 24th 2010, 14:26

Alurad Bouslama - MALTESE????

Nice way of treating our country!

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 14:03

@Malcolm Seychell

Naqbel 100% Sur Seykell. Sa ftit snin ilu f’Malta kif ukoll madwar l-Ewropa kollha kien mistenni li tifel/tifla f’sahhtu/b’sahhitha ta’ erbatax-il sena jkun/tkun kapaci jmantni/tmantni lill-ommu/ommha u lil hutu/hutha kompletament wahdu/wahidha f’kaz li missieru/missierha jigi nieqes, jimrad jew jabbanduna lill-familja. U issa sirna niskuzaw kompletament anki traskuragni grassa li tirrizulta f’mewt! Dak li jgib f’sied zejjed lill- ulied u lil genituri li mhux kapaci jghallmu lill uliedhom sens komun u jikkontrollawhom bizzejjed skont il-bzonn individwali tat-tfal koncernati. Jista’ jkun li dawn it-tfal ghandhom xi learning disabilities ghax wara kollox jien assulutament ma nafhomx. Izda -hu x’inhu il-kaz - li sempliciment tehles hafif b’conditional discharge zgur ma hiex serjeta u jekk il-ligi s’issa ma tippermettix azzjonijiet adekwati minn naha tal-magistrati f’kazijiet bhal dawn meta allura il-ligi hemm bzonn li tinbidel bhal ma hemm bzonn ta’ juvenile penitentiary u anki djar residenzjali ghal tfal bi bzonnijiet u problemi specjali li jirrenduhom ta’ problema perikoluza ghas-socjeta jekk sempliciment jithallew jitrabbew mill-familji naturali taghhom.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 14:03

The real issue is not whether or not these teenagers intended harm but whether or not it is right to trivialize serious carelessness by the overused phrases "accidents happen" and "weren't you ever a kid yourself" etc. There really ought to be a juvenile penitentiary and teenagers like these need to be taught by professional carers in such an institution what they were either (A) NOT taught adequately by their parents or guardians or (B) incapable of learning because of some learning disability or ADHD problem, say. Courses about basic health and safety, first aid, "common sense" etc should be introduced at kindergarten level AND there should be a system of monitoring a child's level of maturity and common sense regularly and whether or not the child in question should be retained in his/her current home environment. Old fashioned common sense is becoming increasingly rare among the new generation of guardians, parents, Learning Support Assistants and even some teachers.

What there can be no doubt about is the fact that merely handing down a two-year conditional discharge is definitely NOT the way to go if we really want some form of improvement in our society.

C. Said

Sep 24th 2010, 09:46

It sickens me to see all these vile and livid comments and wanting these kids to go to jail due to an accident that could have happened to just about anyone. They've already suffered enough, I would have gone mental if I knew I did that and kept it hidden from others... But no, let's be uptight morons and say they need to go to jail, that's the way of most maltese idiots. Absolutely disgusting.

Marianna Galea Xuereb

Sep 24th 2010, 07:11

The real issue is not whether or not these teenagers intended harm but whether or not it is right to trivialize serious carelessness by the overused phrases "accidents happen" and "weren't you ever a kid yourself" etc.. There really ought to be a juvenile penitentiary and teenagers like these need to be taught by professional carers in such an institution what they were either (A) NOT taught adequately by their parents or guardians or (B) incapable of learning because of some learning disability or ADHD problem, say. Courses about basic health and safety, first aid, "common sense" etc should be introduced at kindergarten level AND there should be a system of monitoring a child's level of maturity and common sense regularly and whether or not the child in question should be retained in his/her current home environment. Old fashioned common sense is becoming increasingly rare among the new generation of guardians, parents, Learning Support Assistants and even some teachers.

What there can be no doubt about is the fact that merely handing down a a two-year conditional discharge is definitely NOT the way to go if we really want some form of improvement in our society.

Ramon Casha

Sep 24th 2010, 04:52

Jail would be totally inappropriate and counterproductive in this case. I've lost count of the stupid things I did when I was that age - some of which could have also had tragic consequences.

The memories that these boys will have to carry with them are far worse than any prison sentence.

Luke Cauchi

Sep 24th 2010, 00:30

Pu ghalikom min jghid li haqqom piena il habs jew anzi xi haga ohra milli iridu igorru dan l-accident fhajjitom kolla. Naf bic cert li ma riedux jigri dak li gara u min ma jafx xgara ma tistawx tejdu li ghamlu hekk apposta, ax jekk tahsbu li ghamlu hekk apposta mhuwiex il-kaz. Dawn kienu ghadom zar kienu qed jesperimentaw u giethom hazina hafna. Jiddispjacini ghal min jahseb li ghamluwa apposta, kull ma nejdilom il dawk in nies kolla li jahsbu li dawn iz zewg titfal ghamlu hekk apposta ifthu naqa mohkom u ahsbuwa sew qabel ma tiggudikaw ghax la ma tafux xgara please TIGGUDIKAWX.
ty.

h.azzopardi

Sep 23rd 2010, 22:58

unless you all were there and saw it happen you can't say what they do or don't deserve! everyone thinks they know everything out here. the fact that one lost his brother is enough for him to have to live with all his life which is worse than any prison sentence can give him. yes they may be old enought to think about sex and girls but who of you didn't at that age and didn't still do stupid things? no ones a saint.

Malcolm Seychell

Sep 23rd 2010, 22:25

Nies bhal maggoranza taghkom qed jaghmlu lit-tfal ta' ghada fl-istat hazin li qeghdin u ghar. Mela ghax ikollhom 14 il-sena - li sa fejn naf jien tifel ta 14 -il sena ghandu sens biz-zejjed biex jinduna x'inhu tajjeb u hazin... - jistghu jaghmlu li jridu bl- iskuza li ghax mohh ir-rih? Imma ara xi incident ta' xi guvni ta' 18 -il sena li jaqsamlu xihadd u jtajjru, kollha tigu twerzqu biex jidhol il-habz ghax kiesah (mhux ghax bluha beda jifrah b'xi karozza gdida - ovvjament jien l'istess nirraguna meta nara l'xihadd iwegga l'haddiehor bil-ksuhagni tieghu jista jkollu 18, 35, 75 u anka 13). Mhux ta' b' xejn Malta qeghdha fl- istat disastru li qeghdha fiha. U Ray Buttigieg bl-istess ragunament stupidu li ghamilt int, min jaf xi thoss kieku harqu u qatlu lit-tifel tieghek, tigi hawn u tara lin-nies jghidu li ma haqqhom xejn ghax kienu qed 'jilghabu' jahasra. Tal- misthija! Jien mhux lil dawn insejjah 'tfal' insejjah tfal meta jkollhom 3 snin mela 14 -il sena. Idahqux nies biex minghalikom iggibu vittma lil dawn it-tfal. Dawn harqu tifel, incident jew le, xorta ghandhom ihallsu ghal-izball serju li ghamlu.

Alfred Cassar

Sep 23rd 2010, 19:54

@ CTonna, M Galea, B Galea, J Micallef, M Seychell
Are you serious? This was NOT an omicide, this was just an unfortunate accident. After all the 3 boys were all playing with fire, it was just an accident that one of them died and I'm sure the surviving two are paying a very high price for their misfortune.

Some of you said that you are ashamed to call yourself Maltese. Yes you should be ashamed asking for a jail term for such an unfortunate accident between boys as if they have committed the ugliest crime in the world.

A. Vassallo

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:47

@ beppe galea

Taqra l-kumment tieghek tahseb li t-tfal harqu lil dan it-tifel apposta. Dan kien hu wiehed u habib ta' l-iehor . Tahseb li ghamlulu apposta?

X'gustizzja qed tippretendi. Dan huwa veru kaz zvinturat ghall-ahhar.

Alla hares ghandna lilek Mhallef !!!!!!!!!!!!!

malcolm seychell

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:47

tispara fuq ghasfur tehel il habs, u tahraq il xi hadd haj suspended sentence. le qeghdin sew!!

Robert Callus

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:40

We are becoming a country of savages obsessed with vendetta and eye for an eye. True, the consequences were tragic. These kids are not criminals. They were just playing with fire and had not intention of harming their friend, let alone kill him.

Min qatt ma laghab bin-nar meta kien tifel, jitfa l-ewwel gebla. X'poplu sirna!!

Kevin Zammit

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:33

Mela lanqas taqraw qabel titkelmu? Wiehed minnhom u huh stess. Ser titfa l habs lill hu l-vitma u ta erbatax il sena minhabba loghob tat tfal? Tafu fuq kollox min kien li nstiga dan il loghob mhux biex tparlaw tajbin?

Matthew Grima

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:27

I do not think these two tried to kill him, I don't believe it was their intention to even hurt him. I also have a good feeling that the victim was playing with the fire as well, but was the one to suffer the consequences.

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I used to experiment with fire when I was younger and when I think about it, I am thankful that I did not hurt myself, if something had happened to me while I was with my friends at that time, I wouldn't wish nor expect justice.

gcForte

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:12

We have to keep in mind, that they were three young boys of 14 /15 years old, playing with fire, which one of them caused an accident which might had more terrified consequences.I am sure that non of them have thought the danger they were playing with. When we were young, we all did stupid things. I want to imagine the mother of the unfortunate boy, see the other son goes to prison, because he kill his brother while playing. This is not a case were you put somebody in prison to give him a lesson. I believe that when a person is born, two dates and a story between them will have, the date of his birth the date of his death and the destiny in between. Nobody can change that.

R Agius

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:09

All those dishing out condemnations please take into account the following facts: 1) at the time of the incident the boys were just 14 years old, 2) they were goofing around and never meant to hurt anyone, let alone each other 3) ... in fact one of them was the victim's own brother 4) they even got slightly burnt themselves. This was just an unfortunate accident that could have happened to anyone. No-one should end in prison for being young and foolish. Having caused the death of a friend/brother will surely haunt them forever, they don't need to add to the trauma by serving a prison sentence. Kulhadd jinsa l-bluhat ta' tfulitu meta jaqbillu!

karm ccassar

Sep 23rd 2010, 16:01

Dawn ma harqu lil hadd haj. D awn laghbu bin nar u tifel minnhom inharaq u miet. Tkunux kattivi.

Joseph M. Scicluna

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:56

@ M Galea & C Tonna

From what I can recall from the 2006 incident, it was not the boys intention or in any way premeditative to burn the other boy alive. It was an unfortunate and tragic incident where these teens where inulging in mischief-making. In my opinion the court sentence is justified since there never was any malicious intent. Bear in mind that the victim was a brother of one of the other bays. After all, if these boys were your children, ....... I don;t have to say any more!

Melanie Gauci

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:55

hallu lin nies jejxu jekk ma tafux xgara ezatt ax naf bic cert li huh u siehbu mux ha ''joqtluh''

nicholas valenzia

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:52

iva tragedja. ma nahsibx illi ghaqli noholqu ohra.

J. Micallef

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:41

Jien sewwa nghid. Diment li ma jaqbdukx tpejjep bicca qrempucu ta joint, jew li tghum ghafrwien, mintix ha tibla habs. Ahjar tistaq u toqtol ghax tkun inqas gravi is-sentenza hehe

Keep it up Medieval Malta. You're making us proud :)

Jeremy J Camilleri

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:34

He was 14...Tragic as it might seem, can anyone explain what positive effect a prison sentence would have on a boy...

His memories alone are punishment enough. Truly a tragedy.

L. Mizzi

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:30

Have some compassion. It was an accident. Isn't it enough of a penalty knowing your own brother died because of you?

Raymond Camilleri

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:29

stop the whining...how disgusting of you... the victim was the brother of one of the boys, who like boys do were literally 'playing with fire'...there was fuel/gas which exploded and the 'game' went terribly wrong... now the wise guys here are crying for their pound of flesh... get real ... incredible!... tGod we don;t have the death penalty otherwise people like you would be in the front row cheering and baying for blood....

beppe galea

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:25

Juvinile jail more harsh laws please

dawn harqu nies hajjin fejn hi il justizzja

M galea

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:05

not even 1month jail? i guess that burning a 13yr old alive isn't an issue. skinny dipping is.

nisthi nghid li jien malti!

CTonna

Sep 23rd 2010, 15:05

naqas habs ?
daw harqu lil xi had Hajj ta.. !
mela bara min malta ax wihed tefa hamster fil microwave wehel sentejn habs u aw malta ax harqu lil xi had hajj ma wehel xej.
nisthi najd lil jin Maltija..