‘Intimidation’ of witnesses

Lawyers defending two soldiers charged with murdering a Malian immigrant yesterday accused the authorities of seriously intimidating witnesses after a detention officer was suspended and a lieutenant came under investigation for comments they made during their testimony.

The suspension came after detention officer Dominic Seguna testified in the compilation of evidence that other immigrants in the Safi detention centre did not want the victim inside with them because he was causing problems.

He likened them to ‘monkeys at a fence’ wanting to beat the victim up.

Lieutenant Nicholas Camilleri testified in the same case that he too would have used force to apprehend a violent immigrant, as his subordinates charged with murder had done.

The lawyers, Giannella de Marco, Joseph Giglio and Steve Tonna Lowell, filed a note, making their accusation against the authorities, in the acts of the proceedings to bring the matter to the attention of the magistrate hearing the case.

They said these actions were tantamount to serious intimidation and would condition witnesses.

On Monday, their clients, Gunner Clive Cuschieri, 29, of Paola, and Sergeant Mark Anthony Dimech, 44, of Gżira had their bail conditions confirmed by a judge after the Attorney General asked for stricter conditions to be imposed.

Mamadou Kamara, 32, died while in their custody on June 30 after violently resisting arrest, according to their police statements.