Man jailed for death threats

A man who threatened to kill court expert Joseph Zammit Mckeon, now a judge, in anonymous letters 10 years ago, was yesterday jailed for two months.

Forensic experts had managed to retrieve fingerprints from the letters at the time but there was no match with the police’s database until recently, when the man was arrested and had his fingerprints taken in an unrelated case.

Magistrate Francesco Depas­quale sentenced the man after describing the offence as “very serious”, especially considering that Dr Zammit Mckeon was doing his job as a court-appointed expert at the time.

The accused, George Azzo­pardi, 48, from Birkirkara yesterday decided to admit the charges despite having denied his involvement in a police statement.

Assistant Police Commissioner Pierre Calleja and Police Inspector Michael Mallia told the magistrate that two anonymous letters were sent, the first on October 2, 2002, and the second on January 19, 2003. Both were death threats to the lawyer and his family.

The letters were received after Dr Zammit Mckeon filed a report in court, as an expert.

Defence lawyer Arthur Azzo­pardi suggested a suspended jail term was appropriate, highlighting the amount of time that had passed since the crime.

However, due to the seriousness of the offence Magistrate Depas­quale jailed the accused for two months and also ordered him not to speak to Dr Zammit Mckeon for 12 months against a personal guarantee of €2,000.

Mr Azzopardi filed an immediate appeal and was remanded in custody until the case is heard.