Nicholas Azzopardi death in Police HQ fall - Government amnesty for information
Nicholas Azzopardi
The government will grant an amnesty and protection to any person who has information of alleged abuses leading to the death of Nicholas Azzopardi and is prepared to give evidence under oath in court, the Prime Minister announced in Parliament this evening.
Father-of-two Nicholas Azzopardi died in hospital in April 2008, hours after claiming that, while under arrest, he was beaten up by two policemen who then threw him from a window at the back of police headquarters.
Two magisterial inquiries did not reveal any abuse by policemen.
The subject was raised in parliament by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo. He asked how many people had, in the past 10 years 'fallen' (his inverted commas) from the window and down the wall known as tal-klandestini, a height of three storeys. He also asked how many of these people were foreigners, how many died or were injured and how many were unhurt. He also asked what investigations were made.
Dr Gonzi replied that 13 persons were involved in incidents described by Mr Bartolo of whom 12 were foreigners. Four were hurt and one died after several days in hospital.
A police investigation was made in all cases.
"In view of certain comments that have been made, including comments by Mr Bartolo, about the incident where a person died while in hospital, I want to reiterate that the Government has no interest other than to establish the truth," Dr Gonzi said.
"This was the purpose of the two inquiries that were held.
"I wish to declare once more that if anybody knows of any abuse regarding this case, the government will be ready to offer protection and an amnesty to whoever gives evidence under oath in court so that the truth may be revealed," Dr Gonzi said.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
PL reacts as PN labels Franco Debono's...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
33 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J Degabriele
Oct 11th 2012, 11:45
4 years after the event?
Drocan Lubstuit
Oct 11th 2012, 14:22
Sure ... but in time for the Election Campaign!
Hector Buttigieg
Oct 11th 2012, 11:09
The Police in Malta do a great job but there are elements of Police Force which is dark and evil. Is there anybody who is courageous enough to chop off this bad weed?
P Pace Balzan
Oct 10th 2012, 20:59
An amnesty in this situation is completely useless.
Why not offer a substantial reward for anyone who testifies?
I would start off with the 12 who survived the "fall".
.
It would be interesting to know the stretch of time over which these people "fell" and the reasons, at the time, for not blocking off this potential death trap.
.
Mr C Camilleri
Oct 10th 2012, 20:47
@John Aquilina
Do the Maltese population a favour and stay home watching TV. People like you either watch too many Detective Stories or else you are so one lane narrow minded that can see everything as a conspiracy from Labour to win the next election.
This country deserves better citizens ... sorry to say.
R. Cilia
Oct 10th 2012, 20:47
Kif, hadd ma gieh f'mohhu jaghmel ftit hadid ma din it- tieqa, waqghu tant nies?
Anthony Galea
Oct 10th 2012, 20:23
13 incidents and 1 dead , Maltese. Wether he was abused by police or not the incident took place while Mr.Azzopardi was under arrest therefore the police are responsible no matter what. My hard earned taxes are going towards a payrise for these officers????
A. Borg
Oct 10th 2012, 21:10
100% agree.
John Aquilina
Oct 10th 2012, 20:12
Swept under the carpet with 2 inquiries? That's labour for you. distrusting magistrates and their inquires. Labour will never change. labour wants everyone singing its song. those who don't are always criticized. This is the change people will get by voting labour. they will try to bring everyone into submission. magistrates either find what the labour wants them or their inquiries mean nothing!
j brincat
Oct 10th 2012, 20:00
@John Aquilina
"Labour picked on this because they saw it as a potentially emotional story that could hurt government. This is labour for you. this is the change we do not want to see"
Is that what you think?
But then how could one expect anything better from you!
(jb)
John Aquilina
Oct 10th 2012, 20:13
you don't know me mr (or Dr?) Brincat. so how can you judge me.
I cannot expect anything better from Labour because labour is what is used to be in the 1980s. only the colour of the ties has changed. rest is the fearsome same.
John Aquilina
Oct 10th 2012, 19:53
Labour picked on this because they saw it as a potentially emotional story that could hurt government. This is labour for you. this is the change we do not want to see.
Alfred Vassallo
Oct 10th 2012, 20:00
The government hurt himself the moment the whole saga started . If it wasn't for labour most probably it would have been swept under the carpet. So yes this IS labour for you, and that is a sign of maturity.
P. Ciantar
Oct 10th 2012, 20:16
John this is not a politcal agenda but we the people want to hear the truth. I was for the truth in the frame up of pietru pawl busuttil and the killing of Nardu Debono in the 80's and now I am for the truth in this case or cases of persons being trown out of the windows in the police HQ. I think heads must start rolling
H. J. Grech
Oct 10th 2012, 19:48
It's a good and sensible move but I think the authorities have their backs against the wall!
Donna Parnis
Oct 10th 2012, 19:37
So finally Gonzi has realised the family are not going to let this rest and is now trying to make out hes the big man, Why were the tapes tampered with, Why did Gonzi tell the family he would give them everything and gave them half, No sorry this is not leadership this is fear of the WHOLE TRUTH coming out. About time too.
Paul Bajada
Oct 10th 2012, 19:31
Poor Azzopardi family. They have been taken for a ride by GonziPN since the tragedy! Now a few weeks before the election, it tries to give the impression it is doing something... too little too late....
justice delayed is justice denied.... under the PN of course!
J. Debono
Oct 10th 2012, 20:02
There were 2, I repeat, 2 magisterial enquiries.
Why are you saying that the Azzopardi family have been taken for a ride?
Making 2 magisterial enquiries and giving amnesty to whoever gives new information, is in my opinion, the most one can give to a bereaved family.
And why are you bringing politics in police matters?
Chris Mifsud
Oct 10th 2012, 20:21
What about all the many poor families that suffered and had no justice during the 80's when the MLP created injustices on a daily basis ?
joseph borg st john
Oct 10th 2012, 19:30
Changed days from the 70s and 80s when nothing was done when someone disappeared or died when held while in custody .
Mr Duncan Scerri
Oct 10th 2012, 19:23
Brilliant idea. We need more of this sort of thing. In fact, why doesn't the government think about implementing a new law that would cover people who come forward with information about crimes that have happened at a state or corporate level..you know, something that will help protect whistle-blowers. A kind of "Whistle-Blowers Act", sort of thing?
Anthony Galea
Oct 10th 2012, 20:31
It is already a policy for all European member states :
http://assembly.coe.int/main.asp?Link=/documents/workingdocs/doc09/edoc12006.htm
Charlene Bonnici
Oct 10th 2012, 19:15
If you support only the PM because he has nothing more to do, you really are narrowed minded persons!!!
john muscat
Oct 10th 2012, 19:15
Why Gonzipn's administration did not order to install iron bars in the said window so as no one would "jump" from it. That would be leadership.
Paul Attard
Oct 10th 2012, 19:05
13 incidents? 1 death. And no one held accountable.
A. Zammit
Oct 10th 2012, 18:58
This is what I call leadership.
P Bonnici
Oct 10th 2012, 19:04
Too late to call it leadership, I call it a farce. There has been a lot of pressure on the government to get to the bottom of this crime. The government tried its best to sweep it under the carpet to avoid embarrassment. Unfortunately the rogue policemen the PN inherited from the former labour administration were retained in the force and an omerta culture remained in the police force.
M. Cachia
Oct 10th 2012, 19:05
Calling this leadership............... how little you know about it!
Paul Azzopardi
Oct 10th 2012, 19:20
Who knows the truth can't speak now unfortunetly.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 10th 2012, 19:22
This is why I think that the elections are so near.
Paul Sammut
Oct 10th 2012, 18:53
Well done that is what we want to see that is why i supported Dr Gonzi before and this is what will make me support him again decisions like this one.
DAVID D. PACE
Oct 10th 2012, 19:29
are you sure Paul? lol
david xerri
Oct 10th 2012, 19:30
what a joke, so you are happy that supported him knowing that for the past 4 years other than bulls*** and a mess in parliament we did get and know because the election is coming things are being done.... dont be so much happy that he is making a fool of people like you..
Please choose the reason of your report below: