Teenage murder suspect jailed for breaking curfew

An 18-year-old woman who, three years ago, was charged with her mother’s murder was yesterday jailed for three months for breaching bail conditions and theft but will be released as she has already served time.

Her lawyer, Joseph Giglio, told Magistrate Antonio Mizzi his client failed to stick to the curfew imposed by the court when she went to her mother’s grave to grieve around two months ago. She was found at a bus stop some time later.

She later stole about €200 worth of mobile top-up cards to pay for her rent, Dr Giglio said, asking the court to take into consideration the difficult circumstances of the case before handing down judgment.

The girl had originally been kept at Mount Carmel Hospital following her arraignment in February 2008 and then moved to a children’s home, where she was living when she decided to visit the victim’s grave. Subsequently, the children’s home refused to take her back and the girl went to live with her brother but then left. She tried to rent an apartment but could not afford it.

Dr Mizzi jailed her for three months but ordered her release to YMCA, which offered her accommodation, since she had already spent 10 weeks in prison.

Her mother, 50, was found in a pool of blood in her bedroom inside Villa Samara in Sebuqa Street, Mensija in February 2008, after she failed to open the door for her nine-year-old daughter who had returned home from school.

The teenager was charged together with a 31-year-old man, Robert Zahra, who is also pleading not guilty to the murder. Both were also accused of trafficking in cocaine and being in possession of cocaine and cannabis.

Dr Giglio told the court the girl used to buy drugs for her mother and would prepare the cocaine ready for her to consume. On the day the body was found, the victim had told the accused to buy cocaine for her but she refused.

The murder case continues.