Close friends of Osama Al Shzliaoy Saleh gathered for dinner on Saturday to mark the one-year anniversary of his burial following his violent death in Paceville.
The 26-year-old Sudanese succumbed to head injuries after being struck to the ground in the early hours of March 17 last year.
Known to his friends as “Sunshine” because of his helpful nature and ever-present smile, Mr Saleh’s death last year led to debate about violence in Paceville, especially towards black people.
Still living and working in Malta, life has had to go on for Mr Saleh’s Polish girlfriend, Marta Kaczmarek. But she has been unable to return to Paceville since the attack on her beloved boyfriend.
“I can’t go back to a place where Osama lay on the floor dying and nobody helped him,” she said.
A Romanian national, Antonel Dobre, has been charged with causing serious injury which led to the death of Mr Saleh.
The case is ongoing.
According to eyewitness accounts, Mr Saleh fell to the floor after a single blow from his attacker near the Clique nightclub.
Mr Saleh was left unattended for several minutes before a security guard from a nearby bar went to check on him, his girlfriend said.
She finds it difficult to comprehend why there are not more working CCTV cameras providing better quality security footage in Paceville. “It’s not the first time this has happened,” she added, referring to the death of Sudanese man Suleiman Ismail Abubaker following a violent altercation with a bouncer in 2009. “I don’t think things have improved for black people in Paceville, it will never be safe for them there.”
Elaborating on this point, she said in her experience, security personnel were indifferent to anything that happened outside their club premises and police were reluctant to intervene in violent incidents on the streets.
Another friend, Carol Camilleri, said she was angry that justice had not yet prevailed.
“We still don’t know what happened, and there is no proper camera footage. I miss him so much and nowadays it is hard to find such great friends.”
Ms Kaczmarek was sleeping at home in Gżira when the attack took place just after 6.30am. She received a call at 7am telling her he had been rushed to hospital. He did not regain consciousness and his life support machine was turned off on March 20.
Mr Saleh’s friend, Petra Kulja said: “Paceville is not safe, not only for Africans. There needs to be much higher security.”
Ms Kaczmarek said Mr Saleh only visited Paceville to meet people – he was not fond of alcohol.
“A lot of people miss him. People of all kinds of nationalities called Osama their friend; he changed the perceptions of lots of people who did not mix with black people before. He taught people that it is important not to judge or generalise about others.”
Close friend Anisah Ramorasata said: “I think about Osama every day, of the many teachings he's given me and how I want to be a better person like he was.”