Nicholas Azzopardi inquiry to be reopened

The Police Commissioner is requesting that the 2008 magisterial inquiry into the death of Nicholas Azzopardi while he was in police custody be reopened to eliminate any “shadow of doubt” raised in the past days.

In a statement issued last night, the police said it had requested the Attorney General to reopen the inquiry in the light of allegations, in the public’s interest and for the better administration of justice.

In April 2008, Mr Azzopardi, 38, had alleged that he had been brutally beaten by police while in custody and thrown over the bastions.

The police have always denied these allegations and the inquiring magistrate had concluded he was not beaten at any time while he was in custody and that he actually jumped.

Yesterday’s statement comes days after the police arraigned former police sergeant Adrian Lia – the same officer who was escorting Mr Azzopardi minutes before his death – on a charge of stealing about €30,000 in cash from the police headquarters in Floriana. The officer resigned from the force this month.

Following this case, Mr Azzopardi’s father was quoted in the media questioning the credibility of PS Lia’s testimony in his son’s case.

Reacting, the police categorically denied all allegations of brutality made towards the force and referred to the two inquiries held in the past.

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 also concluded that, if all the evidence submitted by the police were discarded, all the other evidence – together with the documents exhibited and the facts – corroborated the police’s version of the incident.

Another inquiry into the case, headed by Judge Albert Manchè, had also cleared the police of any wrongdoing, the police said yesterday.