An inmate who has only served just a few months of a 30-year jail term for being an accomplice in a murder claimed yesterday his human rights were violated when he was not assisted by a lawyer before his police statements were taken.

George Pace, 60, known as Il-Berqa, from Birkirkara, whose jail term was confirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeal in May, said the fact that he did not have access to a lawyer before he released three statements to the police amounted to a breach of human rights.

He was one of three men charged over the killing of Nazzareno Ebejer, 66, at L-Aħrax in Mellieħa on April 10, 1989. Mr Ebejer had been shot in the head and chest at point blank range.

Co-accused Carmelo Sant, 60, known as Ħarbat, also of Birkirkara, had admitted to the murder right before standing trial and was also jailed for 30-years.

The third man, Michael Vella, Il-Fish, died during proceedings aged 67.

Mr Sant could not by law testify against Mr Pace because he had still to be sentenced. That meant that the main evidence against him were the three statements to the police, Mr Pace said in the application to the Constitutional Court.

Mr Pace asked the Constitutional Court to award him an effective remedy.

Lawyer Franco Debono signed the application.

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