Police request reopening of inquiry into man's death

The police commissioner has requested the reopening of a 2008 magisterial inquiry that had concluded that Nicholas Azzopardi had not been beaten up by the police.

The inquiry had concluded that Mr Azzopardi, then 38, was not assaulted by anyone while he was in police custody.

Mr Azzopardi had died some days after he had claimed he was beaten by the police and thrown into the ditch.

The inquiry had concluded that Mr Azzopardi had escaped police custody and jumped off a three-storey-high wall into a ditch behind police headquarters. He suffered grievous injuries which caused his death.

The inquiry had found that the injuries were compatible with a fall.

The police this afternoon again denied all allegations of brutality and said that that to remove all doubts which could have come about following certain recent statements, the Commissioner requested the Attorney General to reopen the inquiry.

Another inquiry into the case, headed by Judge Albert Manche', had also cleared the police of any wrongdoing.