Three two officers of the Detention Service were accused in court today of the involuntary murder of a Nigerian migrant.

Ifeanyi Nwokaye, 29 died on the night of April 16-17,2011.

The accused are Lt Roderick Azzopardi, 29 of Zabbar who was duty officer on the day, Bombardier Aldo Simiana, 41 of Birkirkara and then Bombardier Carmela Camilleri, 55 of Zurrieq.

Police Inspector Keith Arnaud said that on the day, six migrants had escaped from Hal Far Detention centre. Two were caught within a short time, including the deceased.

According to reports received by the police, Roderick Azzopardi had beaten up the victim while arresting him, while the other two had failed to see if the victim had seen a doctor before being placed in isolation.

The court heard how the victim spent an hour on the floor handcuffed before dying shortly afterwards from cardiac arrest.

Defence lawyers Steve Tonna Lowell and Veronique Dalli asked the inspector to confirm that the victim had not died as a result of violence or through other means.

The inspector said the migrant had not died as a direct result of his injuries, which was why the charge was of involuntary homicide.