Witness told police he saw migrant being kicked on the ground
Migrant was certified dead 20 minutes after the authorities were told of his re-arrest
One of the accused following the killing of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara told the police that he saw a soldier kicking the migrant on his back and below the stomach as he lay on the ground, a court heard today.
A description of the events as they unfolded was given by Police Inspectors Keith Arnoud and Anthony Cachia during the compilation of evidence against Lance Bombardier Gordon Pickard, 35 of Zabbar, who stand accused of the obstruction of justice.
Another two AFM soldiers, Sgt Mark Anthony Diimech, 44, and Gunner Clive Cuschieri, 29, stand accused of the murder, which took place in a Detention Service van at the end of last month.
The inspectors said the migrant had been causing a disturbance at Safi detention centre and there had also been complained by other migrants, who said he was annoying them and pilfering their clothes.
The authorities asked the migrants to be patient as Kamara was to be taken to hospital on the following morning.
However matters continued to deteriorate and it was decided that Kamara should be taken to an isolation room.
As he was being escorted, he pushed a plain clothes officer, jumped over fences and escaped towards Safi.
The two accused started to look for him in a Detention Service van while Pickard did likewise in his private car.
At 11.45 a,m. a woman phoned on emergency number 112 to report that she could see a migrant hiding behind a blue van in Safi.
The soldiers arrived in the van and tried to apprehend him.
He put up a fight and Sgt Dimech put his whole body weight on top of him to hold him down. However, that was not enough and the migrant almost managed to get up.
Pickard told the police that he saw Cuschieri kicking Kamara in the back and below his stomach in order to keep him down. The sergeant was wearing army boots.
Cuschieri subsequently admitted that he had kicked Kamara, but said he was aiming for his thigh.
Kamara was then arrested and put at the back of the van.
At 12.10 the Safi detention centre authorities were informed that the migrant had been apprehended.
By 12.38 a.m., however, the centre was informed that Kamara was dead. A doctor certified him dead a few minutes earlier, at 12.30 a.m.
The van headed back to Safi, and those on board agreed among themselves to say that the migrant had struggled to the end. Pickard himself stuck to this version in his first statement to the police, before changing it.
It had resulted that the migrant died in the van, while his feet and hands were handcuffed. Those on board decided to head for Paola health centre.
The case continues.
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23 Comments
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osman ali
Jul 9th 2012, 22:56
I call again an independent investigation
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 11th 2012, 06:32
Is the on-going prosecution under the law not a sufficiently independent investigation according to law, according to you?
What would you prefer? An investigation by the so called "humanitarian" international organisations who are undisguised mouthpieces of their paymasters, the big countries of the EU, that deny dignity and respect to the immigrants by refusing compulsory burden sharing, preferring instead to turn Malta into a scape goat?
John Borg
Jul 9th 2012, 18:14
Kulhadd tajjeb biex iparla u jiggudika. poggu lilkom infuskom fis-sitwazzjoni qabal tparlaw... kemm tal-immigrant, li ssogra hajjtu biex telaq minn pajjizu, u kemm tas-suldati li harbilhom u kienu qed jilghabu ma hobzhom ghax harbilhom mill kustodja.
Joseph Sammut
Jul 9th 2012, 19:28
@ John Borg: I would like to comment on your comment: "...li ssogra hajtu biex telaq minn pajjizu, ...." For this reason only, I don't give a damn, because nobody asked him to do so and impose himself on our society. I was a LEGAL immigrant twice in my life time. Did I ever asked anyone to carry my problems or did anyone care for my problems. I had to cut with my teeth like all other LEGAL immigrants. Why do these ILLEGAL migrants pretend otherwise, why do they want it all a silver platter? You invade my home and critisize me! Tajba din.
Reinhard Azzopardi
Jul 9th 2012, 22:17
Well said Mr. Sammut. I can understand that a lot of these illegal immigrants go through hell to leave their countries, but I will not tolerate having them here and DEMANDING more rights than others. You go to a foreign country, legally or illegally and ABIDE BY THAT COUNTRY'S LAWS! I, for one, have had enough of their crap and am now totally oblivious to their plight. To be quite honest with you, I really don't care about them any more. We've had enough.
S.M. Cuschieri
Jul 9th 2012, 15:13
My dear God.......Such a sad case for ALL involved.
Neville Carabott
Jul 9th 2012, 15:02
All of us have to admit that not all but some of these migrants are dangerous.You have to speak to people that work daily face to face with these people to see how some of them behave themselves in centers.if this malian migrant was fighting and escaping from police,what do we pretend that these soldiers throw him roses!!!
Jiena taf x-nemmen,gib ruhek sew u ma jigrulekx dawn l-affarijiet.AMEN.
Christian Pullicino
Jul 9th 2012, 16:26
Soldiers and police officers are supposed to be trained in controlling people resisting arrest with minimal violence. If these 3 were not capable of such a thing then maybe they should have found another job ...
Ruth Seychell
Jul 9th 2012, 17:51
Well said Christian
Christian Sciberras
Jul 9th 2012, 17:57
Well said Mr Pullicino.
See, Neville, being in the police force is not only about a pension with the added benefits.
victor bonello
Jul 9th 2012, 17:57
@ Christian Pullicino.. or they should have had more professional support..
mark johnson
Jul 9th 2012, 13:41
If the authorities issued the police or army with tasers then this chap would be alive and charged in court instead of the soldiers.
Why don't they use tasers?
Adrian Stivala
Jul 9th 2012, 15:26
Exactly,
Joe Fenech
Jul 9th 2012, 13:40
The usual lies generated by the instigators of 'political-correctness' .
SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!
Antoine Zammit
Jul 9th 2012, 13:29
this case is still 'sub judice', so one has to be cautious. But it is evident that this is a case of a situation that went out of hands, and this is because the said victim kept opposing 'resistance to arrest'.
I pray God, that good sence prevails, if there has ever been in this country, most notably the Law Courts, and to my opinion the Army Officers involved should be freed from all accusations AT ONCE!
Mario Ellul
Jul 9th 2012, 14:49
I will start my comment with the same 'this case is still subjudice so one has to be cautious'. Mr Zammit, God forbid that if someone opposes resistance you'll be tortured in this country. If this is the case, than we could compare ourselves to Ghaddafi's regime. What a sick comment of yours. These people are supposed to be well trained to control a man when he resists not kick the blood out of him. Two wrongs don't make a right Mr Zammit, anzi the police and soldiers should give more of an example and not do the same or worse!!!
Franco Attard Trevisan
Jul 9th 2012, 14:49
@ Antoine Zammit first you opened with : 'this case is still 'sub judice', so one has to be cautious
then you concluded with : 'and to my opinion the Army Officers involved should be freed from all accusations AT ONCE!'
One hell of a contradiction I must say!
James Dewar
Jul 9th 2012, 14:51
Oh really! And natural justice flies out the courtroom window! One wonders if your sentiments would be the same if it had been your son, brother or father than had died? I suspect that I may know the answer to that.
Joe Fenech
Jul 9th 2012, 17:39
Very sensible!
Ms Marianne Mercieca
Jul 9th 2012, 13:14
I know that these soldiers face a tough job on a daily basis but at the same time I can't tolerate certain comments on the Facebook Group ' Justice for Sergeant Mark Dimech & Colleagues' that are picturing these two soldiers as some sort of heroes. Hope that justice is done and only then one can comment without obstructing the paths of justice.
Dominic Watson
Jul 9th 2012, 12:58
The police were quizzed regarding the incident, they responded: "Mella".
The case continues.
Mary Pace
Jul 9th 2012, 12:46
They never should have publicly said what his injuries were before the court hearing as this might influence the witnesses and the interrogations.
S.M. Cuschieri
Jul 9th 2012, 15:11
Did they mention what caused his death at some point?
Please choose the reason of your report below: